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PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor
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J.R. 20
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Joint Resolution No. 20
(Senate Joint Resolution No. 18)
A Senate Joint Resolution concerning
Ethanol Production in Maryland
FOR the purpose of urging certain State agencies to provide financial and technical
support for the production of fuel grade ethanol production in the State; and
requiring the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Business and
Economic Development, and the Maryland Energy Administration to submit a
certain report on or before a certain date.
WHEREAS, Ethanol is a domestic and renewable fuel produced from grain
crops and other biomass sources that can replace petroleum to increase our energy
security and reduce our dependence on imported oil and fossil fuels; and
WHEREAS, When ethanol is added to petroleum fuels it reduces carbon
monoxide emissions, greenhouse gas emissions, urban air pollution, water pollution,
waste disposal, acid rain, and smog, and, at the same time, does not adversely affect
the nitrogen oxide levels or the performance of motor vehicles; and
WHEREAS, Ethanol is a flexible, environmentally friendly fuel that can be used
as a 10% blend (E10) to run in any vehicle to boost the octane level of gasoline, as an
oxygenate to replace methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), or simply as an extender to
displace foreign oil. It can also be used as an 85% blend (E85) as an alternative fuel
which will run in a large number of commercially available flexible fuel vehicles, as a
source of hydrogen for fuel cells, blended with diesel to reduce sulfur levels, and as an
aviation fuel; and
WHEREAS, A recent study shows that a barley-based ethanol plant is feasible
for Maryland. Ethanol production benefits the economy by providing an additional
cash crop for Maryland farmers, creating new jobs in rural areas, reducing the
dependency on foreign petroleum, therefore, reducing the trade deficit, and lowering
health care costs associated with toxic emissions; and
WHEREAS, The Departments of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and the
Environment have determined that cover crops are one of the most effective Best
Management Practices to reduce nitrogen loading into the Chesapeake Bay. A small
grains ethanol plant will expand the acreage of barley and other small grains, which
are excellent cover crops that utilize residual nitrogen thereby reducing agricultural
runoff into the Chesapeake Bay and coastal bay watershed; and
WHEREAS, The federal government has established certain policies to expand
the use of clean burning, renewable, domestic fuels, like ethanol, and is considering
further incentives to increase the use of renewable energies; and
WHEREAS, The Governor has expressed his support for renewable energy and
alternative fuels in his recent Executive Orders on Energy Conservation and
Efficiency and Clean Power, Green Buildings, and Energy Efficiency; and
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- 4371 -
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