Maryland House Speaker's Energy Bill Sparks EmPOWER Debate

Maryland House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk's energy bill, aimed at lowering energy bills, received mostly positive reviews but drew concern over a provision requiring all residential EmPOWER Maryland programs to be individually cost-effective. Consumer advocates argued at a committee hearing that while individual initiatives may not always meet that bar, the overall EmPOWER program is cost-effective. The debate centers on whether the provision could upend the state's signature energy efficiency program.