Maryland’s governor turns down the thermostat on fossil fuels | STAFF COMMENTARY

Two years ago, the Maryland General Assembly approved the Climate Solutions Now Act, which required that various assessments and reports be developed so that regulators could determine the proper course of action to wean buildings off of fossil fuels. Last week, Gov. Wes Moore cranked up the heat on that regulatory push, signing an executive order filling in many of the specifics.

The bottom line: In the not-too-distant future, there will be no more oil or natural gas-powered furnaces and hot water heaters for new homes or as replacements in existing homes. If all goes as planned, Maryland will join California at the forefront of the national movement — likely by 2030 or so — to not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions from home appliances but improve public health.

And here’s another bit of good news that may have gotten overlooked by the youngsters at the Henderson-Hopkins School when Governor Moore signed the order last Tuesday: It will likely save their parents money in the long term. A recent study from RMI projects most Marylanders (with the possible exception of Garrett County in far Western Maryland) will see lower home energy bills with the use of heat pumps. Indeed, researchers anticipate the average household can save $740 a year on its utility bills by switching to energy-efficient heat pumps.

Yet there’s still much work to be done. Lawmakers may want to revisit the issue next year to help homeowners and business owners alike better afford to make the heating and cooling transition. Certainly, existing state and federal tax breaks for energy-efficient appliances are helpful, but Maryland might consider providing greater incentives for retrofits aimed at lower-income residents. It’s one thing to replace a gas-powered hot air furnace with a heat pump, it’s much more costly if an existing system uses radiators, for example.

Elected officials can expect to encounter headwinds, of course. Red states have been moving in the opposite direction with legislatures in states including Texas, Florida and Wyoming banning cities and counties from restricting gas appliances. Such an approach might be good for deep-pocketed fossil fuel producers or utility profits, but it’s bad for consumers — in terms of their budgets, their health and the future of their planet.

Baltimore Sun editorial writers offer opinions and analysis on news and issues relevant to readers. They operate separately from the newsroom.