A legislative package targeting Maryland?s energy consumption is slowly advancing through the General Assembly even as some lawmakers argue the proposals will only exacerbate soaring power bills.
State senators Wednesday revived a bill, which appeared doomed just one day ago, that would funnel proceeds of a 10-state pollution cap-and-trade program, estimated at $140 million, into alternative energy sources. They voted to divert more of the fund to electricity rate payers and less into conservation programs, with only Sen. E.J. Pipkin opposing the measure.
Pipkin argued more should be returned to consumers? pockets.
“All I ever wanted was to get a fair shake for rate payers,” the Cecil County Republican said.
House members gave preliminary approval to a similar proposal after agreeing to return proceeds beyond $140 million to consumers.
Supporters say the measures are necessary to avoid rolling brown-outs that could begin in 2011.
“The goal is to increase supply, decrease demand and promote conservation and efficiency in the use of electricity,” said Del. Brian McHale, a Baltimore City Democrat.
House members Wednesday also gave preliminary approval to two other proposals that had cleared the Senate Tuesday: one requires a 15-percent reduction in the state?s energy use by 2015; and the other requires power suppliers to increase renewable sources such as wind, solar and animal waste 14 percent by 2022.
Some lawmakers fear the cost of energy-efficiency programs to attain those goals will only be passed on to consumers, who may not have an opportunity to “opt out.” They pointed to angry customers of Allegheny Power in Western Maryland last year who were charged for compact fluorescent light bulbs without notification.
“They rebelled very loudly because they were having a conservation measure shoved at them without any choice,” said House Republican Leader Anthony O?Donnell.
The three energy proposals await final approval in both chambers, and additional debate over details is expected.
Examiner Staff Writer Len Lazarick contributed to this story.
