Consumer Advocates, Environmental Groups & Clean Energy Businesses Urge Lawmakers to Reinstate $70 Million to Lower Bills, Cut Pollution, Create Jobs
Annapolis – Today consumer advocates, environmental groups and clean energy employers urged the General Assembly to overturn Gov. O’Malley’s proposal to divert $70 million from energy efficiency and clean energy programs.
"With Marylanders struggling more to pay their utility bills, we need weatherization and other energy efficiency services more now than ever," said Cathy Demeroto with Energy Advocates, a statewide coalition which advocates for policies and programs that meet the energy needs of Maryland's low and moderate income citizens. "Funding effective energy efficiency programs for families in need will reduce home energy bills and make them more affordable, and thus, reduce the need for bill assistance."
Gov. O’Malley’s Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (SB 166/HB 101) redirects roughly $70 million that had been allocated to energy efficiency and clean energy programs to the Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP). EUSP funds are generally used to help households pay their monthly electric bill.
“The O’Malley Administration has been leading the charge on finding ways to address climate change, by diverting funds from energy efficiency programs, Governor O’Malley is harming his own priorities,” said Cindy Schwartz, Executive Director for the Maryland League of Conservation Voters.
Advocates urged the General Assembly to restore the funding formula that was set by statute last year. After extensive debate and compromise, last year legislation allocated 46 percent of Maryland’s carbon auction proceeds to energy efficiency programs, at least half of which were to be designed for low and moderate income households at little to no cost. The Governor’s Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2009 is a dramatic reversal of that policy.
“Energy assistance shouldn’t come at the expense of energy efficiency or vice versa,” said Maryland PIRG State Director Johanna Neumann.
Improving the energy efficiency of homes lowers bills. In 2004, a Pennsylvania program that helps low income families lower their bills through free home energy audits and weatherization saved the average participating family 2 percent of their annual income.
“While other sectors are laying off, we’re hiring people to do home energy audits and weatherize homes,” said Peter Van Buren with TerraLogos Green Home Services. “There’s tremendous need and it would be a shame to scale back energy efficiency services to the households that need it most.”
The House Appropriations Committee holds hearings on the proposed cuts on March 3rd and the Senate Budget & Tax Committee on March 4th.
