Hospitals in Maryland will no longer be required to cut building emissions under the state’s signature climate policy — a move that some climate advocates say could set a dangerous precedent.
This year, lawmakers passed House Bill 49 to modify the Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) program, Maryland Matters reported . The program has been revised to exempt hospitals from the rules and requirements.
What’s happening?
The new legislation exempts hospitals and certain equipment used in hospitals and medical facilities from the BEPS program , which aims to reduce building pollution by 2040 in Maryland.
The Maryland Hospital Association pushed for the change, arguing that continuous, reliable power is critical for patient safety in facilities like intensive care units, emergency rooms, and operating rooms. The MHA added that power disruptions could have deadly consequences…