You wouldn't build a house without a blueprint.  Unfortunately, that's what Maryland is doing with its energy system. 

Environment Maryland is working to pass legislation that would put Maryland on the path towards a clean, reliable and affordable energy future by ensuring that energy efficiency and renewable energy are on a level playing field with dirty energy, such as fossil fuel power plants, or new transmission lines.

The legislation would require the Public Service Commission (PSC) to approach state energy analysis and planning in a way that is consistent with all the state environmental laws we've worked so hard to pass.  The PSC would be required to consider all available energy options when judging energy proposals and review each proposal’s merit with respect to state environmental laws. 

Tell your state legislator to support comprehensive energy planning.

Maryland passed the strongest statewide cap on carbon in the country last year. Remarkably, Maryland does not have a long-term plan in place to meet the goals laid out in that landmark legislation.  To avoid a possible train wreck, Maryland must make smart decisions moving forward, beginning with crafting a comprehensive energy plan.

When the electricity industry was deregulated in 1999, long-range planning halted.  As a result, the Public Service Commission (PSC) considers energy projects, like power plants or transmission lines, on a first-come, first-served basis.  The agency does not compare these proposals to alternative means of meeting our state’s energy needs, such as renewable energy or energy efficiency measures.  Despite our ambitious goals, we could easily get stuck with energy sources that do not provide the best combination of cost, reliability, and environmental protection.  

The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act of 2009 calls for a 25-percent cut in Maryland’s carbon emissions by 2020.  In order to achieve that goal, all of Maryland’s energy agencies must focus on transitioning to a low-carbon economy.  That’s exactly what this legislation would require the Public Service Commission to do.