Maryland Considers Cap-and-Trade Program to Fund Clean Energy Projects and Meet Climate Goals, Report Says.

A report by Resources for the Future, an economic think tank focused on the environment, suggests that launching a cap-and-trade-style program to address climate change could help Maryland raise money for clean energy projects in low-income communities. The carbon market could help fund home electrification through grants or low-interest loans to install heat pumps, and could also provide money for disadvantaged residents to buy electric vehicles and more charging stations. The report suggests that Maryland officials may consider a carbon market as an option for meeting the state’s legally mandated climate goals, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent below 2006 levels by 2031 and reaching net-zero by 2045.