Maryland, My Maryland - State Green Nude Eel Raising Electrical Prices

 Balmer Sun, Rising costs of energy bills in Maryland spark debate over state’s climate policies

Energy bills for electric and gas are soaring sky-high across the state, with many households reporting an increase of hundreds of dollars a month.

“I have a child. Even for myself, I can throw on two sweaters but when you have a child to think about it’s a scary thought,” Diamond said. In response, Democratic lawmakers are pushing plans to generate more energy at home.

“We know how hard these prices are on working families, and we’ve got to do something to fix it,” said Del. Adrian Boafo (D-Prince George’s).

“We have to provide a path to more Maryland-made energy, we need it cleaner than the energy we produce today, and we need it now,” said Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City). Meanwhile, some political analysts say those very same lawmakers’ cleaner energy initiatives are contributing to the costs they want to curb.

 

If you look at your bill, the climbing “Empower Maryland” charge represents the price you pay for the state’s ambitious climate policies such as the Climate Solutions Act of 2022, which includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 60% by 2031.

In the process, two of Maryland’s fossil fuel plants were scheduled to close in 2025. However, only 7% of the state’s energy comes from renewable resources, forcing these plants to extend their stay at a higher price. On top of that, Maryland busses in another 40% of its energy from other states.

“We’re going to import it from other states, because now we don’t have enough energy, and we’re just going to pretend like somehow Maryland is a cleaner state,” Yuripzy Morgan. an attorney and political analyst, questioned.

Morgan argues the state’s long term climate goals lost sight of the immediate impacts. “There have been warning signs and there have been, you know, dire calls, SOS calls for the last several years, saying your policies will lead to higher prices,” she says. And now, it’s unclear if the legislature is able, or willing to truly flip the switch.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Demure, Relaxed, & In Her Lane ready and waiting at The Other McCain.