Maryland lawmakers on Monday passed an omnibus package of energy policies — closing out their annual legislative session with debates over whether lawmakers have done enough to address the state’s spiking electricity bills.
Sponsored by the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate, the energy package includes a quicker permitting process for community solar projects, incentives for new nuclear generation and an effort to attract a new gas-fired power plant to the state.
Lawmakers said they were eager to demonstrate progress to constituents who could struggle through the summer with electricity rates that are scheduled to rise again in June. Since 2010, according to the state’s Office of People’s Counsel, electricity rates from the state’s largest utility have risen at double the rate of inflation.
Democrats described their legislation as focused on three tranches: short-, medium- and long-term changes.
