By Natalie Jones
Capital News Service
ANNAPOLIS — Maryland legislators have high hopes for passing a bill to increase the state’s renewable energy standards to 50 percent by 2030 and setting a plan in action to raise the standard to 100 percent by 2040, along with seeking to increase jobs in the renewable energy sector.
Are Maryland’s energy suppliers mailing and calling you advertising prices supposedly lower than BGE’s? Have you wondered if it’s worth it to switch, or if these firms are even legit?
These are good questions. Maryland’s deregulated energy market is tricky. However, there is a hassle-free way to choose renewable energy for your home, save cash and skip the hassle of third-party suppliers altogether.
For what it’s worth, every one of Baltimore’s council members supports significantly boosting Maryland’s reliance on renewable energy in the next 13 years.
Bigwigs and everyday Baltimoreans gathered this week at Wade Watkins’ Belair-Edison home for a street party to celebrate the 31st and final solar installation of the Morgan Community Mile. Among the leaders in attendance was Congressman John Sarbanes, who called the program a “win-win-win: A win for homeowners who will see their BGE bills drop substantially; a win for our planet because the solar electricity generated is pollution-free; and a big win for good, paying jobs in the clean-energy industry.”
Dozens of energy-generating wind turbines could soon be arriving on an 80,000-acre stretch off of Maryland shores.
Since the election, the trend of environmental news has been so awful that you may not believe this positive development: In one to two years, you will be able to buy locally harvested, solar-generated electricity priced lower than that coming from your utility.
“Community solar will make it possible for anyone in Maryland to directly access and benefit from renewable energy,” explains Corey Ramsden, program director for the nonprofit MD SUN.
Community Solar’s rules and tariffs are almost set. Pilot projects are in the works. And once the beta projects are analyzed, Community Solar will be ready for prime time in a year or two.
Thanks to legislation codified in 2015 by your state senators and delegates, Maryland renters, businesses, low- to high-income homeowners, farmers, crabbers, Republicans, Democrats, independents, city dwellers and even folks living on a mountaintop, will be able to buy affordable solar energy. Here’s how.
The Maryland Senate has joined the House of Delegates this week in overriding Gov. Larry Hogan’s veto of a bill that will accelerate the timeline for Maryland’s adoption of renewable energy sources.
Maryland’s recently signed “community solar” legislation and Tesla’s new solar battery have paved the way for sun-powered energy to become a reality for all Marylanders. This is good news for your pocketbook, and also great news for our it’s-getting-hot-in-here climate.
A few weeks ago, we got really excited about Clean Currents—the wind energy company that’s providing local and nationally sourced wind power to Baltimore homes and businesses. Clean Currents’ dedication to providing clean and renewable energy to Marylanders is great. As one wind user said, of working with the company: “Clean Currents allows you to do something about supporting renewable energy rather than asking a politician to do something!” We hear that. Which is why we’re so appreciative that there’s a company working locally to give us that opportunity.
