BALTIMORE – Maryland Energy Administration Director Paul G. Pinsky today issued the following statement in response to multiple media reports that the Environmental Protection Agency intends to end the ENERGY STAR program.
“For untold reasons, the Trump administration apparently intends to inject unnecessary chaos into Maryland’s economy by attempting to end the wholly voluntary ENERGY STAR program, one of America’s most tried-and-true conservation programs. Needlessly ending a highly efficient and money-saving program whose very mission is dedicated to increasing America’s efficiency undercuts the Trump administration’s own professed priorities.
I would like to be able to see this misguided move as penny-wise and pound-foolish, but I can’t find the pennies it preserves. On a shoestring budget, ENERGY STAR saves the nation’s consumers and businesses more than $40 billion every year by giving them clear information about the energy efficiency of the things they buy.
If eliminated, Maryland’s residents and businesses will feel the impacts immediately. Marylanders use the program every single day to make informed choices on the types of appliances, homes and buildings they purchase. This results in significant savings, in both energy use and consumer costs. Eliminating the program removes a source of considerable savings and clear information for every single Marylander.
The administration’s actions also create completely avoidable confusion for Maryland’s product manufacturers, utilities, real estate companies and local governments that rely on the program to create value and manage energy use. Again, no efficiency is gained in any business or government entity when needless confusion needs to be navigated.
I can’t emphasize this enough: Maryland will gain nothing, and lose a lot, if ENERGY STAR is shut down.”
The Maryland Energy Administration promotes clean, affordable, reliable energy and energy-related greenhouse gas emission reductions to benefit Marylanders in a just and equitable manner. For more information about the agency and its programs, visit our website at Energy.Maryland.gov, and follow us on social media: LinkedIn | X | Facebook.
