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Shake Up In State’s Energy Administration

October 15th, 2015 by WCBC Radio

The Hogan administration is shaking up the Maryland Energy Administration, firing two senior managers, moving the agency from Annapolis to Baltimore and taking a stand against raising utility customers' electricity bills to expand energy-efficiency programs that advocates say would ultimately save ratepayers money.

The personnel and policy changes worry environmentalists, who say they fear the Republican administration is weakening or even abandoning efforts begun under its Democratic predecessor to clean the air and fight climate change by reducing energy consumption.

"The administration's apparent hostility toward nationally recognized energy-efficiency programs in this state is deeply troubling," said Mike Tidwell, executive director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. "The number one way to lower ratepayers' bills is to invest in efficiency."

Tidwell also expressed concern about uprooting the energy administration and about what he called its "apparent downsizing," with roughly one-fourth of its full-time and contractual positions now vacant.

 

 

 

 

 

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