Businesses and trade associations urge Maryland governor to sign energy efficiency legislation
Twenty-three Maryland employers and four trade associations sent a letter Tuesday to Gov. Larry Hogan, urging him to sign legislation that would extend Maryland’s EmPOWER energy efficiency programs.
The businesses that signed the statement employ several thousand Maryland workers. The businesses include: Union Hospital, Doctors Community Hospital, MGM Resorts International, Gaylord National, Alban CAT, United Technologies, Schneider Electric, Ameresco, Whirlpool Corporation, Cree, Wishrock, Unison Energy, Aegis Energy Services, Inc., Hannon Armstrong, FirstFuel Software, Nest Labs, Somerset House, Greenavise, Zerodraft Maryland, Lime Energy, Veolia North America, ESai, LLC, A.J. Michaels, and NAC. The trade associations are: the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO), Efficiency First Maryland, and the Maryland Alliance of Energy Contractors (MAEC).
The letter refers to Senate Bill 184, which would extend Maryland’s EmPOWER energy efficiency programs for six more years. The employers said that extending the energy efficiency programs would allow them to continue to create local jobs that can’t be outsourced, keep prices down and be more competitive in a global economy.
“Global companies have many potential investment opportunities all around the world. Companies with a long and successful history in Maryland want to hire more Maryland workers,” said Michael Giangrandi, Chairman of the Maryland Alliance of Energy Contractors. “Energy efficiency policies that keep energy costs low and predictable over the long-term are a major consideration about where businesses make decisions and investments.”
“We want Gov. Hogan to please support EmPOWER Maryland because energy efficiency has proven itself to work for employers and for consumers,” said Trisha Knych, Vice President, Government Relations & North American Communications at Schneider Electric. “The state has a tremendous opportunity to boost energy savings, reduce waste and grow its economy.”
Since its inception in 2008, research shows EmPOWER Maryland has delivered:
- Demand savings exceeding 2,000 MW — the equivalent to the output of four large power plants.
- Lifetime energy savings exceeding 51 million MWh — the equivalent to the electricity consumption of 850,000 residents each year for five years.
- Benefits that will exceed $2.4 billion.
