Gov. Moore Signs Law to Cut Pollution, Save Money

Gov. Wes Moore today signed legislation sponsored by Delegate Brian Crosby to strengthen EmPOWER Maryland, the state’s energy efficiency program. The new law will reduce air pollution, save money, and move Maryland closer to achieving its climate goals.

The EmPOWER program provides Marylanders with free or discounted energy audits, weatherization, and efficient appliances and provides businesses with discounts and incentives for energy efficient upgrades.

Since 2008, EmPOWER Maryland has created a projected lifetime savings of over $12.7 billion in energy costs — from an investment of $3.5 billion in efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of at least 9.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, equal to taking 2 million cars off the road for a year. 

Under the new law, the EmPOWER Maryland program will:

• Help Marylanders switch from inefficient and polluting home heating and appliances to clean, efficient electric appliances and heating.
• Reduce utility profits, lowering ratepayer costs and tying any future profits to performance.
• Provide incentives and rebates for home energy audits, weatherization support, appliance tune ups and new appliances.
• Help  low-income households take advantage of state and federal funds for energy efficiency, electrification  and whole-home retrofits, including benefits for families living in large multifamily buildings.
• Requiring Choptank electric cooperative to offer energy efficiency programs to its customers for the first time while the PSC considers permanently adding them to the program.

Members of the coalition supporting the legislation expressed gratitude to Governor Moore and his administration, the Public Service Commission, Del. Crosby,  and leaders in both legislative chambers for their work on the new law, issuing the following statements:

“Reducing energy waste in our homes means cleaner air and lower utility bills,” said Maryland PIRG Director Emily Scarr. “Investing in energy efficiency is one of the smartest investments our state can make because the cleanest, safest, and most affordable energy is the energy we don’t use. ”

“With the signing of this bill, we are one step closer to meeting Maryland’s ambitious climate goals and ensuring all Marylanders, especially low- to moderate-income families, have access to energy efficient upgrades to get off gas,” said Josh Tulkin, Director, Maryland Sierra Club. 

“The new EmPOWER  law will ensure low- and moderate-income households, especially those in historically disinvested communities, are not left behind in the transition from fossil fuel appliances to electrification,” said Ruth Ann Norton, President and CEO of the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative. “The health, economic, and social benefits of this improved program will be felt across the state and will enhance the quality of life for all Marylanders.”

“Our breath connects us to each other and to all life. We believe our breath is for singing praise – not for breathing in soot and pollution,” said Andrea Orozco, Faithful Advocacy Lead, Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVa). “Today we commend Governor Moore for joining so many caring Marylanders in using his breath – and his office – in support of a safer, cleaner, and more efficient future.”

 “As a group anchored in economic justice, updating EmPOWER is important to us because it not only lowers rates for consumers, but brings clean energy into low-income households, reducing the risk of respiratory disease,“ said Marceline White, executive director, Economic Action Maryland.

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The coalition to support EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency reform includes more than 40 consumer, environment, and faith groups working together to align Maryland’s energy efficiency program with state climate goals and protect ratepayers from unnecessary costs.

350MoCo + Action in Montgomery + Advance Maryland + Audubon Mid-Atlantic + Baltimore Jewish Council + CASA + Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry + Center for Progressive Reform + Chesapeake Climate Action Network + Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility + Citizen Climate Lobby + Climate Reality Project + Economic Action Maryland + Elders Climate Action + Environment Maryland + Green and Healthy Homes Initiative + Howard County Climate Action + Indivisible HoCoMD + Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake + Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA) + Jewish Community Relations Council/Jewish Federation of Howard County MD + Justice & Witness Action Network — MD (Central Atlantic Conference, UCC) + League of Women Voters of Maryland + Maryland Catholics for Our Common Cause + Maryland Energy Affordability Coalition (MEAC) + Maryland League of Conservation Voters + Maryland Legislative Coalition + Maryland Legislative Coalition – Climate Justice Wing + Maryland PIRG + Montgomery County Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions + National Aquarium + National Housing Trust + People Acting Together in Howard + Potomac Riverkeeper Network + Progressive Maryland + Rebuild Maryland Coalition + Sierra Club Maryland Chapter + Sunrun + The Nature Conservancy + Third Act + Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland + Waterkeepers Chesapeake