Press Release - Office of the Governor

Governor O'Malley Announces Maryland Energy Summit

Summit Will Bring Best, Brightest Minds Together to Find Solutions;

Governor Swears In Malcolm Woolf to Lead Maryland Energy Administration

ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 3, 2007) – Just one day after releasing the “EmPOWER Maryland” initiative to reduce Statewide energy consumption 15% by 2015, Governor Martin O’Malley announced the Maryland Energy Summit.

This summit, to be held on July 25, 2007, will bring together community leaders, academic experts, government officials, industry regulators, and business executives to discuss a strategic energy policy. By creating a forum for an honest, open discussion, Maryland will take the first key steps to establish a plan for affordable, reliable, clean energy.

“As a state, we have to look at all of our options – improving efficiency, enhancing infrastructure, and bolstering accountability – and we have to act,” said Governor O’Malley. “With the Maryland Energy Summit, we will bring together the leading experts on energy throughout our state to help us find the solutions to create a stable, sustainable future.”

Governor Martin O’Malley also swore in Malcolm D. Woolf as Director of the Maryland Energy Administration. An energy expert with experience at the national level and in the private sector, Woolf will lead the MEA in its role to make Maryland more energy efficient, lower costs for consumers, and protect Maryland’s environment from power-related pollutants. In addition, Governor O’Malley announced a Maryland Energy Summit to create a plan to keep energy affordable.

“I am proud to swear in Malcolm Woolf as Director of the Maryland Energy Administration,” said Governor O’Malley. “In his first few weeks, Malcolm has already proven himself an outstanding leader who will protect Marylanders families by making our power system more efficient and cost-effective.”

“In Malcolm, Maryland has a leader with national experience who cares about keeping energy affordable,” said Lt. Governor Brown. “Maryland is truly lucky to have a leader like Malcolm who will help us confront one of our most pressing problems – the increasing cost of energy.”

Malcolm Woolf was most recently the Director of the National Governors Association’s Natural Resources Committee, which shapes federal policy on energy, agriculture, the environment, and natural resources. While with the NGA, Woolf launched the NGA’s Energy Project to evaluate and prioritize state and federal energy policies and shape the federal energy agenda. Previously, Woolf was Counsel to the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, working on energy and environment issues, including renewable and rural energy. Woolf was also a Senior Attorney with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and an Environmental and Energy Associate with both Winston & Strawn, and Piper & Marbury L.L.P.

Woolf received his B.A. magna cum laude from Tufts University. He earned a Masters of Public Administration and Public Policy, and a J.D., from the University of Virginia.

The EmPOWER Maryland Initiative released yesterday, which aims to reduce power consumption statewide 15% by the year 2015, has seven key points:

• Improve Building Operations – A 5% reduction can be achieved through improved building operations, replacement of incandescent lights with compact fluorescent lights, and involvement of each state employee to reduce energy use at each agency of state government.
• Significantly Expand Use of Energy Performance Contracting – Maryland can benefit dramatically in energy and maintenance savings by expanding the use of the Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) program.  Under this program, agencies hire energy service companies to develop, install, and finance projects designed to improve the energy efficiency and maintenance costs for facilities. 
• Increase the State Agency Loan Program – The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) will expand the State Agency Loan Program (SALP) by 50% to $1.5 million in FY 2008. By augmenting this zero interest revolving loan program, state agencies will avoid an additional $50,000 in electricity bills, resulting in total annual avoided costs under this program of at least $150,000. Typical projects include energy efficient lighting, controls, heating, ventilation and air conditioning. SALP can be used to fund a portion of an energy performance contract or to fund individual projects.
• Require Energy Efficient Buildings – Significant energy savings can be obtained by requiring all new state buildings over 20,000 square feet to be more energy efficient, based on a review of the upcoming recommendations of the Maryland Green Building Task Force. California has enjoyed great success in reducing its energy consumption by investing in energy efficient buildings. According to the US Green Building Council, the average upfront additional cost of constructing to the LEED Gold certification standard is 2.2% and is typically recovered through energy savings within 3 years.
• Purchase Energy Star Products – Purchasing Energy Star qualified products where available, as well as environmentally friendly cleaning and maintenance products, would save energy and reduce the state’s environmental footprint.
• Expand Community Energy Loan Program – MEA can expand the Community Energy Loan Program (CELP) by 33% to $2 million in FY 2008. CELP provides in low interest revolving loans to local governments and nonprofit organizations to install energy efficient improvements. By adding an additional $500,000 to the CELP program fro FY 2008, MEA can provide additional loans to help more hospitals, schools and local governments finance energy efficiency investments.
• Ensure Accountability – Incorporating energy issues into the StateStat process will help state agencies track their progress and assist in achieving the statewide energy efficiency goals. State agencies will be expected to designate energy managers, conduct energy consumption analyses, and update energy conservation plans.