ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                           H.B. 747

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for setting energy
efficiency standards for the entire country. Maryland does not set standards on a
State level that regulate energy efficiency standards of products sold, manufactured,
or installed in the state. The federal government should continue its role of regulating
energy standards. Promoting energy efficient products is a laudable goal that I
encourage. It is not, however, Maryland's prerogative to force energy efficient
products on consumers, many of whom cannot afford them.

The ENERGY STAR program, a federal program that identifies and promotes energy
efficient products to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, has been a
successful partnership between DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Through federal standards and programs such as ENERGY STAR, people around the
country can conserve energy and achieve cost saving energy efficiency.

This legislation will dramatically increase the costs of products for various businesses
in Maryland. These costs will be passed along to consumers, often those who can least
afford the increases. For example, higher energy efficiency standards for commercial
clothes washers will cause the prices to increase at multi-housing (college
dormitories, elderly housing, etc.) and coin-operated laundry facilities. This will have
a disproportionate impact on poorer subdivisions around the State. Also, consumers
looking to purchase ceiling fans will have no choice but to purchase the more
expensive fans with higher efficiency standards. Consumers currently have the option
to purchase these fans if they choose to do so.

Finally, our surrounding states do not have these standards. By adopting this
legislation, Maryland would risk losing businesses to its neighboring states that have
friendlier business climates.

For the above stated reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 747.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.

Governor

House Bill No. 747

AN ACT concerning

Maryland Energy Efficiency Standards Act

FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Energy Administration to adopt
regulations establishing by a certain date to establish certain minimum energy
efficiency standards for certain new products sold in the State; prohibiting
certain new products from being sold or offered for sale in the State on or after
certain dates unless the products meet the minimum energy efficiency
standards; prohibiting certain new products from being installed in the State on
or after a certain date unless the products meet the minimum energy efficiency
standards; authorizing the Administration to delay the effective date of certain
standards for up to a certain period in certain circumstances; requiring the
Administration to adopt certain testing procedures and labeling requirements;
providing for the certification of new products; authorizing the Administration

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