Just what Marylanders need during this time of increasing energy costs – higher prices and shorter supply.

Under the clean-air plan, three power plants in Montgomery County and Southern Maryland owned by Mirant Corp. and three in Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties owned by Constellation Energy Group will have to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and mercury. The companies no longer will be permitted to purchase credits that enable them to bypass those standards.

Ehrlich said the new regulations come "with a serious price tag" for the two companies, estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Constellation released a statement yesterday saying that could mean higher electric bills for Maryland customers. A spokesman for Atlanta-based Mirant said officials there were studying the proposal.

Interestingly enough, none of the environmentalists quoted seem interested in making it possible for new power plants to be built. The result of this will be shortages in supply as the plants are forced to cut back on production, and higher costs as the companies must expend money to make the plants meet the standards and/or buy on the spot-market.

Posted by: Greg at 11:54 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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