Mar 27
A little rate relief from greenhouse gas emission credits?
in energy

The Senate Finance Committee resolved a brouhaha over energy efficiency programs late Wednesday, directing some money from the sale of greenhouse gas emission credits toward programs to cut power use, and sending some back to ratepayers to reduce bills.

 

A bill that creates a “Strategic Energy Investment Fund” originally would have sent money to the Maryland Energy Administration to help renters and low income electric customers reduce their power use. That money would come from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a multi-state compact that would see Maryland sell carbon allowances to power plants.

 

But Eastern Shore Republican E.J. Pipkin passed a committee amendment Tuesday that would have sent the money directly back to ratepayers. At the last second, Sen. Rob Garagiola, a Montgomery Democrat, succeeded in suspending the discussion. Environmental groups cried foul, and on Wednesday, the committee agreed to split the difference between bill credits and efficiency programs.

 

One Senate estimate projects that the combined programs could save residential ratepayers around $9.35 per month. The credits were projected in the $5 range, but the efficiency programs may take longer to phase in.

 

So what’s better? Spending on efficiency programs or sending it all back to ratepayers? Or do you like the combo?

 

3 Responses to “A little rate relief from greenhouse gas emission credits?”
 

Choose between $9.35 and $5.00? I’ll take the $9.35, thanks. Somebody tell E.J. Pipken to leave my $4.35 alone.

TJH wrote on March 27th, 2008 at 7:52 pm

 

The question is not one of energy efficiency. It’s one of government efficiency. If all that money were serving the goal of reducing carbon emissions, I’d be all for it. But I bet it gets diverted, through creative bookkeeping, into administrative overhead. Lay off a couple of hundred civil servants and give me back my five dollars.

E.J. Pumpkin wrote on March 28th, 2008 at 2:22 pm

 

The Global Warming Solutions Act is being voted on in the state legislature right now. It will reduce Maryland’s CO2 emissions to 75% of 2006 levels by 2020 through wide-ranging initiatives such as improved public transportation, green sector development, and energy efficiency.

This is the last week of legislative session, and the bill will be voted on very soon! Legislators need to hear from us, so please contact your delegate: http://environmentmaryland.org/action/global-warming

Most importantly, please contact delegates on the Economic Matters Committee who have the most control over the bill. This next website gives their phone numbers and the districts they represent. PLEASE CALL TODAY, as this is the very last week of session! http://environmentmaryland.org/action/global-warming/calls-ecm

Your help is needed. Act now!

Thank you,
Mike Sherling

Mike Sherling wrote on April 2nd, 2008 at 10:05 am

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