House speaker’s energy efficiency proposals get mixed reviews

By: Christine Condon

Outlets: Maryland Matters

Published: March 4, 2026

Words: 1,169

Last Updated: 1 week ago

Body Text Preview

House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk’s plan to lower energy bills got mostly positive reviews Tuesday, but a proposal to tweak the state’s signature energy efficiency program, EmPOWER Maryland, raised concerns that it could upend the program instead.

The provision, which requires that all residential programs offered to customers under EmPOWER be cost-effective, is just one paragraph in the speaker’s 12-page Continuing the Next Generation Energy Act, House Bill 1532. But it was the focus of …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Email Us