Even in the absence of federal leadership on climate, Maryland still has an opportunity to invest in a cleaner and healthier future.

With federal freezes on climate-related funding and threats to dismantle the Inflation Reduction Act, climate programs are being targeted. But cutting climate initiatives will also undermine programs that help lower energy bills and bring real economic benefits to people. It’s now up to the states to take the lead going forward.

Fortunately, Gov. Wes Moore understands this and isn’t backing Maryland down from its commitment to help increase affordability and build healthier, climate-resilient communities. Maryland is revealing that addressing the climate crisis can help usher in a clean energy economy that provides economic benefits, such as lower energy costs and job creation, for all Maryland residents.

One way Maryland is boosting its economy and increasing climate resilience is by upgrading buildings with state-of-the-art, efficient electric equipment, with a specific focus on how we heat and cool our homes. To achieve that vision, Gov. Moore last summer put forth a groundbreaking executive order that will help households upgrade to healthier, more efficient electric equipment, such as heat pumps, environmentally friendly “climate superheroes” that can replace the need for traditional AC and gas furnaces.

Moore’s executive order furthers Maryland’s drive to create a sustainably clean energy economy for all. To implement the directive, the Maryland Department of the Environment is expected to propose the adoption of a zero emission heating equipment standard and a clean heat standard, both of which will bolster the market for electric heating and cooling appliances, such as heat pumps, that will help upgrade Maryland’s building stock with the latest clean energy technology and bring good-paying jobs to the state.

This comes right as Maryland has reached a critical juncture in its path toward a clean energy future. Maryland’s utilities are currently pouring money into polluting, expensive methane gas pipelines and passing those costs onto residents who are facing higher and higher energy bills. If action is not taken soon, Maryland residents will see skyrocketing bills in the coming years. It’s why Maryland needs a proactive approach that will help rein in utility bills, create good-paying jobs, provide residents with affordable and reliable heating and cooling and meet our climate targets.

That’s where heat pumps — and Moore’s executive order accelerating their adoption — can be a gamechanger. More than 20% of homes in Maryland have already upgraded to highly efficient heat pumps and are reaping the substantial economic benefits. On average, Maryland residents who upgrade from gas to a heat pump for home heating and cooling can save $705 per year on average, money that can be used to pay for other essentials. Upgrading homes with heat pumps will also spur demand for contractors in the HVAC sector, bringing family-sustaining jobs to Maryland.

In 2024, 11 major HVAC manufacturers and distributors released a joint vision for a decarbonized future, in which they committed to providing the industry and market support necessary for states to enact bold policies that affordably and equitably increase heat pump adoption. With buy-in from major HVAC manufacturers and distributors, accelerating adoption of heat pumps can spur the creation of family-sustaining jobs for Marylanders in the HVAC sector.

Heat pump adoption will also bring cleaner air to Maryland. Pollutants released by fossil fuel equipment, such as nitrogen oxides and ozone, disproportionately impact low-income, Black and brown communities in the Baltimore area, exacerbating respiratory illnesses such as asthma and leading to costly trips to the doctor’s office and emergency room. Upgrading to zero-emissions equipment can slash this pollution and improve Maryland’s air quality. As for climate benefits, upgrading to a heat pump from a gas furnace can reduce climate emissions by 33% in one year and 62% over 15 years.

Gov. Moore has laid out an ambitious plan to develop a 21st century clean energy economy for Maryland. By working together with communities, the workforce and market actors to implement his plan to increase heat pump adoption and decarbonize buildings, his administration’s efforts will result in good-paying jobs, lower energy costs, reduced climate emissions and improved air quality for Maryland residents and families.

Brian Jenkins is the Mid-Atlantic senior regional manager at the Building Decarbonization Coalition.