At the UN Climate Summit in New York City, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed onto a joint commitment from a coalition of 25 states, known as the U.S. Climate Alliance, to collectively deploy 20 million new heat pumps by 2030. The goal is expected to quadruple the number of residential heat pumps operating in these states.
The U.S. Climate Alliance is a coalition of 25 states that have committed to reducing net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at least 26% to 28% by 2025 and 50% to 52% by 2030, when compared to 2005 levels, and achieving net-zero GHG emissions no later than 2050. Maryland’s goals are more ambitious, targeting steeper and faster emissions reductions that require a 60% cut by 2031 and net zero economy-wide GHG emissions by 2045.
The heat pump commitment is one of a suite of transformational climate mitigation policies that Maryland and other Climate Alliance states have agreed to pursue. Maryland committed to:
- Explore the adoption of zero-emission standards for space- and water-heating equipment.
- Phase out fossil fuel heating and cooling in new construction by 2027.
- Explore the development of clean heat standards that require fuel suppliers to provide lower carbon fuels or purchase carbon offsets.
- Advocate for the adoption of advanced energy-efficiency requirements in building codes, including installation of solar and electric vehicle infrastructure.
- Take actions that will curtail natural gas infrastructure by aligning utility resource planning with state climate and building decarbonization goals.
Eight states (CA, CT, HI, MA, ME, NY, PA, and RI) committed to adopting state-wide building performance standards similar to what Maryland and other early-acting states have enacted.