The Maryland Energy Administration could lose five of seven new positions proposed in the fiscal 2009 budget by Gov. Martin O’Malley. A Senate budget subcommittee voted Monday to eliminate the five jobs at the state’s energy policy arm.
The new workers, projected to cost around $250,000 next year, would manage energy contracts, alternative fuels, and “green collar” jobs, oversee greenhouse gas limits and prepare a plan to safeguard the state’s energy supply and infrastructure. The subcommittee also voted to maintain $290,500 in solar energy grants, despite analysts’ recommendation to cut them.
Check out my story on the proposed cuts from a few weeks ago (subscriber-only link).
Administration officials say they need the new employees to help the state cut power use, but lawmakers have so far been wary of new spending. Still, this is far from a done deal. It still has to go to the full Senate Budget & Taxation Committee, then to the full Senate along with the rest of the budget. The House will also do its own budget work before the two chambers work out their differences. So stay tuned.
