What's New
Gov. O’Malley launched the EmPOWER Maryland initiative on
July 2, committing to a 15 percent reduction in per capita electricity usage in
Maryland by 2015—a 5 percent reduction in total statewide consumption.
To help come up with a plan, the governor hosted an energy
forum on July 25. Ideas from the forum
are now being considered in the development of a "strategic energy plan" for the state.
How You Can Help
Thank the governor for taking this important step.
Brief Summary
The
costs of our current energy system go beyond what is printed on our monthly
energy bills. Air pollution from power
plants causes 560 deaths and 21,000 asthma attacks in Maryland every year. Nitrogen deposition into the bay causes dead
zones that damage our environment and our fishing industries. And global warming threatens to cause damage almost
too vast to calculate, with sea level rise, temperature change and increased
extreme weather events.
In a
business-as-usual scenario, energy consumption is expected to grow 1.5 percent per
year. This rising demand threatens to
increase our over-reliance on fossil fuel and nuclear energy. Investing in energy efficiency, however, can
reduce our energy demand 1.6 percent per year, more than offsetting the impacts of
population and economic growth. By taking simple steps to make our buildings,
appliances, and factories more efficient, we can stabilize our energy
consumption at or near current levels.
Maryland should be
working diligently to create a clean, sustainable energy future. Investing in
energy efficiency and renewable energy is the only way to wean the state off of
polluting, unsafe, and unstable sources of energy. Furthermore, the investments from increasing
energy efficiency save money over time.
Energy
efficiency must occur at every level—the state, counties and cities, and our
homes. Many states have already
established strong appliance standards and tax incentives to promote energy
efficiency in homes and businesses. Maryland should lead the
way towards this green energy future. Now is the time to promote energy efficiency and conservation, in order
to reduce overall demand and reduce the environmental impact that comes from
fossil fuel and nuclear energy.
