Maryland's governor, Martin O'Malley, has made a clean energy policy one of his political goals, in hopes of reducing the state's energy consumption by at least 15 percent over the next seven years. Maryland has also become part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which is the country's first mandatory, market-based effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It involves ten other states in an effort to reduce CO2 emissions; states involved will auction off emission allowances through actual auctions, and they will then invest the proceeds into energy efficiency, renewable energy resources, and similar clean energy technologies.
Residents involved in the push for clean energy resources are taking these new developments as a sign that Maryland is now officially on the progressive policy wagon. An issue currently being debated is the need to ensure that the auction revenue for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative contributes to alleviating rising energy costs. This should be done through short-term revenue distribution as well as investing in efficiency upgrades and low-carbon technologies, say hopeful resources in the State Senate.
O'Malley has approved many bills recently that are based on efficiency and conservation measures, which make significant greenhouse gas reductions now instead of later. His proposals are matter-of-fact implementations of already existing technology. One of these energy bills wants utility companies to create programs that reduce electricity bills by providing rebates for customers who buy energy-efficient appliances. This bill is also aimed at creating incentives for Maryland residents to construct or purchase more energy efficient home resources.
Another bill initially approved by the Senate is one that wants to diversify state power supplies in increasing renewable energy resources like wind and solar power, a development that has already taken place in many states across the nation. Also, the Senate initially approved another measure to create state funding to promote the conservation of energy resources.
What is important to note here is that Maryland is finally looking at the issues with the motivation to act on them, even if Governor O'Malley's policies have been met with differing responses before the General Assembly. Some critics say that his plan could actually boost energy costs, at least temporarily, but O'Malley insists that his plan for saving energy resources is important if the state doesn't want to fall victim to constant blackouts and brownouts in the future. This is why, the governor states, the rates of Maryland's energy consumption must be brought down.
The fund O'Malley wants to create for energy-efficient technology and programs to promote cleaner power would be financed by the auction. There are many officials in the government who doubt that this auction will generate the resources needed for such a venture, though the officials behind the auction hope it will generate $100 million in monetary resources for the project. Many critics also worry that the costs for the credits sold at auction will be passed on to consumers (a weighty problem, considering that Baltimore Gas and Electric customers suffered a 72 percent increase in rates last year).
Chris Blastoyout shares information with homeowners. Check out:
http://www.localrestorations.com/Maryland
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