Maryland Energy Administration Awarded NGA Clean Energy Grant
ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 30, 2008) – Governor Martin O’Malley today announced that the Maryland Energy Administration has been awarded a Clean Energy States Grant by the National Governors Association, a prestigious grant designed to empower states with innovative ideas to advance clean energy projects. Maryland is one of 12 states in the nation to receive this grant.
“We must do all that we can to preserve our natural resources and secure Maryland’s energy future,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “This grant will allow the State to take another step in ensuring that we help lower consumers’ energy bills and provide clean and reliable energy for all Marylanders.”
“While preparing to implement EmPOWER Maryland, one of the nation’s most ambitious energy efficiency efforts, this grant will help us ensure that low income residents also see the savings in their monthly bills,” said Malcolm Woolf, director of the Maryland Energy Administration.
The grant will allow the Maryland Energy Administration to maximize their efforts to offer energy efficiency programs to low and moderate income Marylanders at little or no cost. It will also allow MEA to develop a strategy that takes advantage of "best practices" in other states such as offering up to $5,000 in energy efficiency makeovers for low income residents.This September, Maryland will become one of the first states in the nation to auction carbon allowances as part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). To plan for the RGGI auction, Governor O’Malley recently signed legislation creating the Strategic Energy Investment Fund. The proceeds from the auction will go into the fund, providing both short-term rate relief and longer term investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate change programs. The rate relief and energy efficiency programs of this bill will save Maryland households on average $8.74 a month.
In his first 16 months in office, Governor O’Malley has made great strides in helping to secure our energy future, including:
- Passed the Clean Cars law to reduce auto emissions and tackle global warming
- Launched the EmPOWER Maryland Initiative, setting the most ambitious goal in the nation to decrease per capita electricity consumption 15% by 2015, which when fully implemented will save Marylanders $5.7 billion (an average of $190 per household annually) and avoid at least three new power plants
- Proposed Strategic Energy Investment Fund to allow Maryland to take control of its energy future by investing in energy efficiency technology and clean renewable power
- Promoted diversification of Maryland’s electricity sources and "green buildings" to establish a more secure, sustainable energy future
- Created the Climate Change Commission to develop an action plan to address climate change in Maryland and rising sea levels in the Chesapeake Bay,
- Led efforts to implement Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative with 10 states to control carbon dioxide emissions in United States and supported the Global Warming Solutions Act.
