The Senate on Tuesday gave at least a temporary setback to Gov. Martin O?Malley?s initiatives to create more programs and funding for energy conservation when senators rejected a plan to use sale of permits to utilities for greenhouse gas emissions to fund amajor new energy saving program.
Lawmakers complained that the bill was too complicated and confusing, and did not provide enough rate relief for utility customers but instead created a huge new bureaucracy to administer conservation programs. Democrats were divided on the issue, as the chairmen of two major committees argued over the best way to lower utility bills for low-income customers.
“While we?re giving them a fish, we?re going to teach them how to fish,” said Senate Finance Chairman Thomas Mac Middleton, a Charles County Democrat, in the early stages of debate, describing the combination of rate relief and conservation programs.
Middleton angered Health and Environment Committee Chairwoman Joan Carter Conway, a Baltimore Democrat, when he asked the Senate to reject her amendment offering large rebates on utility bills to low-income people, rather than setting aside the money for conservation.
Supporters of the bill argued that providing energy-efficient windows, insulation and appliances was a better way in the long run to save money for the poor than using the money to give them lower bills.
Middleton and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller promised to ask the Senate to reconsider the bill.
The amount of money generated from the so-called “capand trade” sale of greenhouse gas emissions could be more than $100 million.
Offering several amendments to provide more rate relief, Sen. E.J. Pipkin, an Eastern Shore Republican, complained that half the money generated “goes to buy nebulous programs” that would be run by a new “empire” at the Maryland Energy Administration. All his amendments failed.
“I don?t think there are too many people who really understand this,” said Sen. Lowell Stoltzfus, another Eastern Shore Republican. Electric rates are “way up” and “ratepayers are going to be howling loudly” if the legislature doesn?t provide more relief.
