Maryland Governor Wes Moore Directs State Agencies to Increase Use of Maryland-Grown Wood in Public Construction
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has issued an executive order mandating state agencies to prioritize the use of Maryland-grown and harvested wood in publicly funded construction projects. This directive applies when wood is a required, preferred, or appropriate building material. The order aims to bolster local markets, support sustainable forestry practices, create rural jobs, and ensure the long-term conservation of Maryland's working forests. The Maryland Department of General Services, in collaboration with the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and Natural Resources, is tasked with reviewing current procurement practices. Their goal is to identify and implement strategies that will increase the utilization of locally sourced wood in state construction. This initiative also seeks to address existing barriers in processing, marketing, and distribution that hinder the movement of Maryland's timber into construction and consumer markets, even though the state's forests produce more wood than is currently h...
