ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SunEdison, Inc. (NYSE: SUNE), the largest global renewable energy development company, and the Maryland Climate Coalition, today released poll results showing that Maryland residents overwhelmingly support legislation before the General Assembly that would expand clean energy and clean energy jobs in the state. The Clean Energy Jobs Act (SB 921/HB 1106) raises Maryland's clean energy standard and requires the state to generate 25 percent of electricity from clean sources by 2020. Additionally, the act sets aside millions of dollars for investment in Maryland's clean energy workforce and job training programs. The announcement comes shortly before the bill's first hearing in the House Economic Matters Committee where solar workers, business leaders, health and civic groups will testify in support of the bill.
"Marylanders clearly recognize that our future lies in clean energy. The Clean Energy Jobs Act is not only a win for our economy and environment, it's the type of policy that Maryland voters overwhelmingly want," said Delegate Bill Frick, lead House sponsor of the bill.
The poll results released today, conducted by the non-partisan, independent firm OpinionWorks, confirmed that the majority of Maryland voters back the policy:
- Nearly three-quarters of Maryland voters, 71 percent, support expanding Maryland's clean energy standard to 25 percent by 2020, even if it would add up to 50 cents per month to their electric bill. Only 24 percent, oppose the policy.
- The support for expanding Maryland's clean energy standard increases to 74 percent when coupled with provisions to train more Marylanders for careers in clean energy.
- Support crosses political party lines. A majority of Republicans, Democrats and Independents support the Clean Energy Jobs Act.
- There is wide support for this proposal across the state—in rural, urban and suburban communities. Support is no lower than 63 percent throughout the state, and some areas peak at 81 percent in favor of the bill.
"This poll confirms broad and growing public support for clean energy policies that also expand career opportunities for Marylanders," said Senator Catherine Pugh, lead Senate sponsor of the bill. "New job training investments will provide new pathways to clean energy careers, diversifying our workforce along with our economy."
"Once voters understood that clean energy is cost competitive with fossil fuels, 77 percent said they were in favor of policies to quickly adopt more clean energy in Maryland," said Melanie Santiago-Mosier, SunEdison's director of Government Affairs. "In addition, the Clean Energy Jobs Act will create thousands of new jobs in Maryland's clean energy sector. We're excited to find that the overwhelming majority of Maryland's voters support clean energy, clean energy jobs, and the bill."
The passage of the act is expected to grow Maryland's solar energy market by an additional 250-300 megawatts, which is enough to power more than 26,000 Maryland homes a year. The act also creates demand for approximately 1,000 megawatts of other types of renewable energy like wind.
According to the Solar Foundation, there are approximately 4,300 solar jobs in Maryland today. By increasing demand for solar energy, the Clean Energy Jobs Act may create 1,000 new jobs in solar per year and more than 4,600 new jobs in wind energy.
SunEdison and the Maryland Climate Coalition encourage the Maryland voters to contact their local Senator and Delegates and voice their support for the Clean Energy Jobs Act. Visit http://mdelect.net/ to find out how to contact your local legislator.
View a summary of the full poll results at: http://marylandclimatecoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Climate-Poll-Fact-Sheet-3-2-161.pdf
About The Clean Energy Jobs Act
The Clean Energy Jobs Act expands on a current state law called the Renewable Portfolio Standard, or RPS. The RPS requires that Maryland electricity providers purchase a certain amount of renewable energy each year for their customers. The amount of renewable energy increases over time, and there is a special provision for solar. Currently, the state's electricity providers must source 20 percent of their energy from renewables like wind by 2022, and 2 percent from solar by 2020. The Clean Energy Jobs Act would increase this amount, to 25 percent from renewables by 2020, and 2.5 percent from solar by the same year. In addition, it provides more pathways to clean energy industry by including funding to train more Marylanders for careers in clean energy and bolster minority and women-owned businesses within the clean energy economy.
About the Survey
The Maryland Statewide Registered Voter Poll surveyed Maryland registered voters to measure attitudes. A total of 594 voters responded to the survey, which was conducted between February 19 and 26, 2016.
About SunEdison
SunEdison is the largest global renewable energy development company and is transforming the way energy is generated, distributed, and owned around the world. The company develops, finances, installs, owns and operates renewable power plants, delivering predictably priced electricity to its residential, commercial, government and utility customers. SunEdison is one of the world's largest renewable energy asset managers and provides customers with asset management, operations and maintenance, monitoring and reporting services. Corporate headquarters are in the United States with additional offices and technology manufacturing around the world. SunEdison's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SUNE." To learn more visit www.sunedison.com.
About the Maryland Climate Coalition
The Maryland Climate Coalition brings together environmental, faith, health, labor, and civic organizations to advance clean energy and climate policies in Maryland. For more information about the Maryland Climate Coalition, visit http://www.marylandclimatecoalition.org.
Forward Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve estimates, expectations, projections, goals, assumptions, known and unknown risks, and uncertainties and typically include words or variations of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "predict," "outlook," "objective," "forecast," "target," "continue," "will," or "may" or other comparable terms and phrases. All statements that address operating performance, events, or developments that SunEdison expects or anticipates will occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, a variety of economic, competitive, and regulatory factors, many of which are beyond SunEdison's control and are described in SunEdison's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, as well as additional factors it may describe from time to time in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements provide SunEdison's current expectations or predictions of future conditions, events, or results and speak only as of the date they are made, but SunEdison can give no assurance that these expectations and assumptions will prove to have been correct and actual results may vary materially. SunEdison disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.
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SOURCE SunEdison, Inc.
