O?Malley energy package advances

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.