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Delegates Vote To Override Hogan’s Renewable Energy Veto

January 31st, 2017 by WCBC Radio

The Maryland House of Delegates voted Tuesday to override Gov. Larry Hogan's veto of a bill to boost the state's renewable energy standards.

The House voted 88-51 Tuesday for the override, just three votes over the minimum Democrats needed.  The Senate is scheduled to vote on the Republican governor's veto Thursday. Last year, the Democrat-controlled Senate passed the bill 32-14, also just above the 29 votes, or three-fifths, needed.

The measure would increase requirements to use energy sources like wind and solar to 25 percent by 2020. The state's renewable energy standard goal now is 20 percent by 2022.

Supporters say the bill will help the environment and increase jobs in renewable energy, but opponents say the bill will pass costs along to consumers on the electric bills. Hogan called it a "sunshine and wind tax."

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