Groups call on Hogan to withdraw gas expansion grants

Today, Maryland PIRG  sent a letter from 30 environmental and public health groups to Governor Hogan and Maryland Energy Administration Director Mary Beth Tung calling on them withdraw their recently announced $9.25 million grant program for expanding methane gas infrastructure across the state.

Every dollar spent on expanding gas infrastructure is a dollar wasted long term, and contributes to the ever-growing cost of gas. These grants to gas utilities are additionally misguided because gas utilities already have the ability to recover these costs from their customers — and they do, with surcharges on our bills and through increased rates.

That’s why Maryland PIRG organized this letter from environmental, community, and public health leaders to urge Gov. Hogan and Director Tung to stop this wrongheaded grant program.