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Governor signs Green Maryland Act
of 2010 into law
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Annapolis (May 21, 2010) – Governor O’Malley yesterday signed into law Senate Bill 693/House Bill 1164 – Green Maryland Act of 2010. This legislation follows in the spirit of Governor O’Malley’s nationally renowned Smart, Green and Growing environmental initiative.
The Green Maryland Act will address ways to develop green purchasing guidelines, practices, products and services to address the negative impacts on human health and the environment and reduce Maryland’s carbon footprint.
Sponsored by Maryland Senator Jamie Raskin (D-Montgomery County) and Delegate Doyle Nieman (D-Prince George’s), the Green Maryland Act establishes the Green Purchasing Committee to be chaired by General Services Secretary Alvin C. Collins. 
The Maryland Green Purchasing Committee will consist of Secretary Collins, the secretary or designee of the Departments of Budget and Management, Natural Resources, Environment, Health and Mental Hygiene, Business and Economic Development Transportation, Public Safety and the Chancellor or designee of the University System of Maryland. The Council will coordinate with State or federal agencies, task forces, workgroups and regulatory efforts, perform research and data collection efforts on other programs and services relating to environmentally preferable purchasing.
Some of the many ambitious goals of the Act are to reduce electricity consumption, implement policies that reduce operating times for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in State-owned and operated building, increase the energy efficiency of computer servers and data storage center operation and procure food and beverage containers made from bio-degradable materials containing plant-based plastic or containing post consumer waste.
“I am pleased that DGS has been given the responsibility through this legislation of leading this extremely important environmental initiative,” Secretary Collins said. “One of Governor O’Malley’s many passions and achievements has been to provide resources and ideas to protect our environment for our children and our children’s children as we move Maryland forward. I am confident that the Green Maryland Act will be a major asset to the Smart, Green and Growing movement. I’m anxious to get started.”