Climate change and Larry Hogan’s Hobson’s choice

As climate change legislation goes, the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 is a reasonable, if not quite game-changing, attempt to accelerate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Maryland. In its original form, it might have put the state at the forefront of local efforts to address climate change. But, despite some scaling back by the General Assembly (most notably stripping out the requirement that new buildings not use natural gas, a fossil fuel, to meet energy needs), the legislation remains a powerful tool in at least one regard: It, along with a handful of other controversial bills, are poised to define — or, perhaps, politically redefine — Gov. Larry Hogan and the Maryland Republican Party going into an election year for state offices.