Maryland is lagging badly in meeting its goal of reducing energy consumption 15 percent by 2015, and a consumer group is blaming the state's Public Service Commission for the lack of progress.
Three years after Gov. Martin O'Malley got lawmakers to adopt his Empower Maryland energy conservation goal, the state's effort to get consumption down is so far behind it won't even get halfway there by the 2015 deadline, according to the latest report by Maryland PIRG.
That's unfortunate, because while there's debate about the merits and drawbacks of producing power from coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind or even solar, experts seem to agree wholeheartedly on the merits of stretching existing sources of energy by increasing the efficiency with which we consume it. It can be done quickly and with relatively little upfront cost, compared with building new power plants - if done right.
According to my colleague Liz Kay's reporting in today's Baltimore Sun, Johanna Neumann, the group's state director, faults the PSC for "mismanagement" of the development of energy-efficiency programs by the state's utilities. PSC chairman Douglas Nazarian wouldn't comment on the criticism, because energy-savings programs are under continuing consideration by the commission. O'Malley spokesman Shaun Adamec, though, said consumers still have benefited through reduced energy spending even if the effort's well short of its goal.
The utilities have offered discounts for buying compact fluorescent light bulbs and energy-efficient appliances, plus rebates on home improvements and heating and cooling system upgrades. All are paid for through surcharges the utilities were authorized to levy on customer bills.
But PIRG contends other energy-saving programs have been held up by lengthy reviews by the PSC, Kay reports. So while Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., the state's largest utility, is on pace to trim peak demand for power 15 percent by 2015, overall energy savings will only be about 48 percent of the goal, the group says.
PIRG insists it's still possible to achieve the energy conservation goal by 2015, but only if the PSC imposes and enforces deadlines for getting programs in place and works harder to enlist consumer participation. To read the full report, go here.
(Compact fluorescent bulbs offered at discounted prices in home improvement stores. 2008 Baltimore Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron)