Opinion: Hogan Veto Deprives Low-Income Marylanders of Their Fair Share of Energy Efficiency Benefits

With the extreme heat of summer upon us, Governor Hogan’s recent veto of an energy efficiency bill failed to put in place measures to protect Maryland’s most vulnerable citizens. House Bill 108 and Senate Bill 524, which passed the General Assembly this year with broad support from Democrats and Republicans, sought to lower the disproportionately high energy burden borne by low-income Marylanders. Nearly one out of every five Maryland households qualifies as low income. Many of these residents live in buildings with inadequate weatherization and moldy or dusty air.