Democratic legislators in Maryland are still wrestling with how much they should back away from climate goals in the name of affordability.
State lawmakers on Thursday advanced Democratic leaders’ marquee energy affordability bill that would cut energy efficiency programs in order to lower utility bill charges, along with a suite of other regulatory moves aimed at savings over several years.
“We’re playing the long game at multiple levels,” said Democratic Sen. Brian Feldman, the chair of the Senate’s energy committee who managed the legislation on the Senate floor. He said lawmakers are looking to encourage new solar and battery development, as well as natural gas and nuclear, to bring down electricity prices. “It’s an all-hands-on-deck approach,” he said.
But the legislation nearly went much further.
