Emily Warfield Scarr
@emilyscarr.bsky.social
📤 82
📥 105
📝 101
Senior Advisor with MarylandPIRG. Upgrade Maryland Campaign Manager. Baltimore, MD
Thanks for your work RJ. My kids aren’t getting any AI toys this Hanukkah or anytime soon.
www.today.com/video/why-ai...
add a skeleton here at some point
about 13 hours ago
0
1
1
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Gabi HaMakabee
1 day ago
Guilty pleas, $100K fine for Skyline Tower Painting for a 2022 tower-washing project that showered TV Hill with hazardous lead paint.
www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
loading . . .
Guilty pleas, $100K fine for company after lead paint chips fell from TV tower
Maryland's Attorney General announced guilty pleas and a $100,000 fine against Skyline Tower Painting and its president, holding them accountable for a 2022 tower-washing project that showered Baltimo...
https://www.thebanner.com/community/criminal-justice/skyline-tower-painting-guilty-pleas-fines-baltimore-tv-tower-OFMPWIA5YVFLJI7HBRAT4XSEAQ/
0
0
1
BGE is charging customers billions under the banner of safety for a program that may actually be delaying the work to replace, repair the riskiest cast iron pipes.
add a skeleton here at some point
8 days ago
1
1
1
Fast-Tracked and Flawed: New Analysis Finds BGE’s $19.5 Billion Gas Pipeline Program Fails to Prioritize Safety, Drives Up Costs
pirg.org/maryland/fou...
loading . . .
8 days ago
0
0
0
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Zeke Cohen
8 days ago
Every time BGE tears up Baltimore’s streets to replace pipes, they make more money. Don’t take my word for it, take their most recent public earnings statement – BGE’s 3rd quarter profits increased by 82% since last year… 1/4
3
2
2
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Baltimore Banner
9 days ago
BGE choosing ‘wasteful’ gas pipe replacement projects, consumer watchdog says
loading . . .
BGE choosing ‘wasteful’ gas pipe replacement projects, consumer watchdog says
A consumer watchdog organization says that Baltimore’s utility company has been putting profits ahead of safety when it chooses how to replace gas pipes.
https://buff.ly/Awg37nm
1
9
5
Maryland PIRG’s new analysis finds BGE’s multi-billion dollar gas pipeline replacement program may be slowing the work to repair or replace the riskiest pipes. A 2025 law could result in major changes moving forward to stop wasteful spending & require BGE to prioritize safety.
bit.ly/pirgreport
9 days ago
2
4
5
The Maryland Public Service Commission is moving forward with regulations to end a policy that forces existing gas customers to pay the cost of building pipelines for new customers- ending an outdated process the drives up customer costs and increases utility profits.
pirg.org/maryland/fou...
loading . . .
Maryland utility regulators move to end expensive gas line incentives, saving customers $1 billion
Consumer and environmental advocates applaud draft regulations to reduce costs
https://pirg.org/maryland/foundation/media-center/maryland-utility-regulators-move-to-end-expensive-gas-line-incentives-saving-customers-1-billion/
10 days ago
0
0
0
loading . . .
A teddy bear powered by AI told safety testers about knives, pills and sex
A company is reportedly withdrawing its AI teddy bear from the market after researchers found it told a tester where to get knives, pills and matches when asked.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/11/21/ai-toys/
21 days ago
0
0
0
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Abe Scarr
23 days ago
Two more good decisions from the IIlinois Commerce Commission... STATEMENT: Regulators slash Nicor, Ameren rate hikes
pirg.org/illinois/med...
loading . . .
STATEMENT: Regulators slash Nicor, Ameren rate hikes
https://pirg.org/illinois/media-center/statement-regulators-slash-nicor-ameren-rate-hikes/
0
0
2
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Abe Scarr
about 1 month ago
Maryland utiility regulators are using their new authority to ensure Washington Gas' pipe safety spending priritizes safety and is cost effective
pirg.org/maryland/upd...
loading . . .
Utility regulators scrutinize 2025 Washington Gas infrastructure spending
New law requires spending to priotize safety and be cost-effective
https://pirg.org/maryland/updates/utility-regulators-scrutinize-2025-washington-gas-infrastructure-spending/
0
1
1
loading . . .
‘Give me your grid’ | EDITORIAL CARTOON
AI data centers will gobble up your power.
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/11/05/give-me-your-grid-editorial-cartoon/
about 1 month ago
0
1
0
An explosion of state-supported infrastructure spending by utilities caused the increases, leading many states to reconsider, restrict, or roll back their policies. Read more:
www.npr.org/2025/10/13/n...
loading . . .
Natural gas prices are low, but your monthly gas bill is up. Here's why
Gas utility bills are rising even though natural gas prices are down. That's because a much larger share of your gas bill now goes to infrastructure instead of fuel.
https://www.npr.org/2025/10/13/nx-s1-5558384/gas-utility-prices-home-climate
about 2 months ago
0
0
0
Relax, America, There Is Life After Nonstick Pans
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...
loading . . .
Opinion | Relax, America, There Is Life After Nonstick Pans
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/opinion/nonstick-pans-cooking-chemicals-teflon.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
2 months ago
0
0
0
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Third Act Maryland
2 months ago
Thanks to MD PSC (
www.psc.state.md.us
), gas corporations can no longer unfairly charge existing customers big $ to add new customers--saves customers $1B in hidden fees & helps reduce the $1.3B in annual health costs due to gas burning equipment in MD.
loading . . .
A win for Maryland gas utility customers - Maryland Matters
Natural gas customers will save $1 billion over the next decade under a new Maryland policy that puts that cost where it belongs, writes Emily Scarr, on the utilities, which now earn $3 from existing ...
https://marylandmatters.org/2025/09/27/a-win-for-maryland-gas-utility-customers/
0
6
3
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Maryland Matters
3 months ago
Natural gas customers will save $1 billion over the next decade under a new Maryland policy that puts that cost where it belongs, writes Emily Scarr, on the utilities, which now earn $3 from existing ratepayers for every $1 spent hooking up new homes.
marylandmatters.org/2025/09/27/a...
loading . . .
A win for Maryland gas utility customers - Maryland Matters
Natural gas customers will save $1 billion over the next decade under a new Maryland policy that puts that cost where it belongs, writes Emily Scarr, on the utilities, which now earn $3 from existing ...
https://marylandmatters.org/2025/09/27/a-win-for-maryland-gas-utility-customers/
0
4
4
PJM “is stifling the development of clean energy, setting the rules for the capacity market, forcing energy prices up and continuing to marginalize the voice of the very states it serves,” writes Paul Pinsky
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/09/20/p...
loading . . .
Maryland deserves a voice when it comes to our energy | GUEST COMMENTARY
Maryland’s regional grid operator is driving energy prices up, writes Paul G. Pinsky, and the state has little say.
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/09/20/pjm-energy-maryland/
3 months ago
0
0
0
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Third Act Maryland
5 months ago
“Why should residential customers be responsible for costs being driven by some of the biggest and wealthiest corporations in the world?" "PJM policies have restricted supply, with a backlogged queue for energy projects, many of them renewable"
loading . . .
Advocates: Energy auction shows data center influence, grid operator's deficits - Maryland Matters
The auction by multistate power grid operator PJM will cause most Marylanders’ monthly electric bills to go up $2 to $5 next summer on top of other costs -- a "death by a thousand cuts" that points up...
https://marylandmatters.org/2025/07/28/pjm-auction-shortcomings-maryland-advocates-data-centers/
0
0
2
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Hayes Gardner
5 months ago
“Maryland is power hungry and you’re paying the price on your utility bill,” writes
@briaovers.bsky.social
. Huge batteries are a potential solution. But projects to build them have mostly stalled and run out of juice.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/economy/clea...
loading . . .
Maryland is struggling to land clean energy batteries
Ultility-size clean energy storage batteries could save Maryland ratepayers big money, but projects have stalled partly because the region’s grid operator has been overwhelmed with project requests.
https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/economy/clean-energy-batteries-projects-stalling-ZS2RQK6VYJH3JNUK3H7YX5CPBI/
1
4
3
Some updates on the MD PSC proceeding on “the future of gas.”
pirg.org/maryland/fou...
loading . . .
Maryland utility regulators’ opportunity to address rising gas bills
The Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) is continuing its proceeding to plan for the future of home heating and methane gas infrastructure.
https://pirg.org/maryland/foundation/updates/maryland-utility-regulators-opportunity-to-address-rising-gas-bills/
5 months ago
0
0
0
Curious about PJMs electricity rate auction this week? There’s a lot still being reviewed but here is a thread of some good reads.
5 months ago
2
1
0
I love this piece from
@briaovers.bsky.social
explaining the role and history of the MD PSC.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/economy/mary...
loading . . .
The little-known state agency greenlighting utility rate hikes
The Maryland Public Service Commission approves the proposed rate hikes on customers of BGE and other utility companies. Here’s how it works.
https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/economy/maryland-public-service-commission-bge-explainer-VDVDDWHYKVGSNGIJZSNQFDXBNE/
5 months ago
0
0
0
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Advance Maryland
5 months ago
🚨 COMMENTS ARE DUE TOMORROW – July 23rd! 🚨 Sick of skyrocketing utility bills? Take action NOW to tell Maryland’s utility regulators to require gas pipeline spending to prioritize safety AND be cost effective to slow the increase of our utility bills:
bit.ly/mdgassafety
@emilyscarr.bsky.social
0
0
1
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Jonathan Geldof
5 months ago
PJM's attitude towards ratepayers and elected officials within its territory has been off-putting to say the least. I'm impressed with this op-ed by David Lapp at the Office of People's Counsel in MD, which I think makes the argument very persuasively:
www.utilitydive.com/news/pjm-ceo...
loading . . .
PJM leadership openings are an opportunity to chart a new course
Rather than addressing the root causes of its problems, the organization blames states for supply and infrastructure shortages, often defending the very policies that are driving up customer costs.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pjm-ceo-board-reform-maryland-data-center/753605
0
0
1
Gov. Wes Moore and a bipartisan coalition of other state executives urged the operator of Maryland’s electrical grid to select tenured leadership and to make policy changes to mitigate skyrocketing utility prices.
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/07/18/g...
loading . . .
Gov. Wes Moore wants ‘distinguished’ board members for Maryland electric grid
Gov. Wes Moore and a bipartisan coalition of other state executives urged the operator of Maryland’s electrical grid to select tenured leadership and to make policy changes to mitigate skyrocketing…
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/07/18/gov-wes-moore-maryland-electric-grid/
5 months ago
0
1
0
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Inside Climate News
5 months ago
Surging data center demand and sluggish clean energy growth are converging as PJM, the largest power grid operator in the U.S., awaits capacity auction results. Customers across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest will be affected.
loading . . .
Are You a Customer of PJM? Its Capacity Auction Will Affect Your Electricity Prices in 2026 - Inside Climate News
Surging data center demand and sluggish clean energy growth are converging as PJM, the pivotal power grid operator, awaits capacity auction results.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/20072025/pjm-capacity-auction-electricity-price-hike/
0
10
11
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Hot & Toxic
5 months ago
🔥 CO just passed a hot new law. Retailers now have to
#PutALabelOnGas
: “Understand the air quality implications of having an indoor gas stove.” Cooking dinner shouldn’t come with a side of benzene, asthma, nor air pollution— we deserve to know what’s in our homes:
leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1...
0
1
1
A little reminder that BGE hazardous gas leaks have increased over the last decade.
www.baltimoresun.com/2024/09/27/s...
loading . . .
BGE has four times as many hazardous gas leaks as its peers, Sun analysis shows
Even as consumers pay ever higher rates for BGE to improve its infrastructure, the number of pipes leaking hazardous gas has risen to levels much higher than similarly sized utility companies.
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/09/27/sun-analysis-bge-has-four-times-as-many-hazardous-gas-leaks-as-its-peers/
5 months ago
0
0
0
“Developers have an incentive to think big. Utilities have a huge incentive to think big,” explains People’s Counsel David Lapp in this story on development and utility capital spending.
add a skeleton here at some point
5 months ago
0
0
0
“Those who point to (electricity) imports as evidencing a reliability issue also fail to grasp — or intentionally misrepresent — that average import levels don’t matter,” explains Maryland OPC
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/07/07/m...
loading . . .
Maryland shouldn’t be on the hook for out-of-state data centers | GUEST COMMENTARY
Marylanders are forced to pay for rising electricity demand from out-of-state data centers writes Maryland People’s Counsel David S. Lapp.
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/07/07/maryland-shouldnt-be-on-the-hook-for-out-of-state-data-centers-guest-commentary/
5 months ago
0
2
2
The group, led by
@zekecohen.bsky.social
gathered outside BGE headquarters and pressed the Maryland Public Service Commission to bring an end to multiyear rate cases, which let utilities apply for several years of rate increases at a time.
marylandmatters.org/2025/07/04/b...
loading . . .
Baltimore officials push for more action to lower energy bills - Maryland Matters
Lawmakers spent countless hours on energy reform this session, and emerged with a package of bills aimed at lowering customer costs, but bills are still rising, so a group of Baltimore policymakers an...
https://marylandmatters.org/2025/07/04/baltimore-energy-bills-multi-year-rates/
5 months ago
0
0
0
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/07/04/p...
loading . . .
PFAS detected in Monocacy River at concerning levels, study finds
So-called “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, are odorless, tasteless compounds that can pose serious health risks — and they’re increasingly being found in local waterways, including the Monocacy …
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/07/04/pfas-detected-in-monocacy-river/
5 months ago
0
0
0
Today I joined
@zekecohen.bsky.social
to deliver petitions to BGE and the PSC asking them to end BGE’s wasteful spending and stop the relentless rate hikes. Unfortunately BGE refused to accept the petitions.
loading . . .
5 months ago
0
0
0
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
WJZ | CBS News Baltimore
5 months ago
Baltimore City leaders call for end of BGE's 'Operation Pipeline' program, multi-year rate hikes
loading . . .
Baltimore City leaders call for end of BGE's 'Operation Pipeline' program, multi-year rate hikes
Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen and other city leaders are calling for a halt to Baltimore Gas and Electric's 'Operation Pipeline' program.
https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/bge-operation-pipeline-baltimore-city-leaders/
0
0
2
Utilities like to say they have no control over supply costs and don’t profit off of them, but neither is exactly true.
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/06/29/b...
loading . . .
Blame Maryland’s grid operator for rising utility bills | GUEST COMMENTARY
Your utility bill will go up this summer, but not for the reasons BGE and others are telling you, writes Emily Scarr.
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/06/29/blame-marylands-grid-operator-for-rising-utility-bills-guest-commentary/
5 months ago
0
0
1
If the bill becomes law, New York would join California, Colorado, and most recently Maryland, in eliminating subsidies for gas line extensions statewide.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/fos...
loading . . .
New Yorkers to stop paying for other people’s gas hookups under new…
For decades, utility customers in the state paid the costs of connecting new buildings to nearby gas lines. Legislators just passed a bill to end the…
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/fossil-fuels/new-york-repeal-gas-hookup-incentive
6 months ago
0
1
0
What's really driving up your electric bill?
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/06/19/w...
loading . . .
What’s really driving up your electric bill? | GUEST COMMENTARY
Your electric bills are high because of the way the regional transmission operator sets the rules, writes Paul G. Pinsky.
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/06/19/whats-really-driving-up-your-electric-bill-guest-commentary/
6 months ago
0
0
0
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Gwynne Hogan
6 months ago
Here's a longer video of Brad Lander's detention just now inside 26 Federal Plaza as he tried to walk a man out of immigration court, by masked federal agents.
loading . . .
826
11900
6628
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Hot & Toxic
6 months ago
In MD, a worker smelled gas and tried to alert BGE. His calls went unanswered & minutes later, the home blew up. The same type of issue was also behind a 2019 explosion. BGE promised to fix it by the end of 2023. But new details reveal 440 of these dangerous trenches are still unrepaired.
1
0
1
Maryland utility regulators end subsidies to connect new gas utility customers: Subsidies no longer show clear benefit to utility customers.
pirg.org/maryland/fou...
loading . . .
Maryland utility regulators end subsidies to connect new gas utility customers
Subsidies no longer show clear to benefit utility customers.
https://pirg.org/maryland/foundation/updates/maryland-utility-regulators-end-subsidies-to-connect-new-gas-utility-customers/
6 months ago
1
1
0
“It is misleading to assert that the capacity market results are simply just a reflection of supply and demand,” the report states.
www.wusa9.com/article/tech...
loading . . .
Data centers blamed for electric bill spike, new report says
Monitoring Analytics faults the explosive data demand for driving an 800% electricity auction price hike.
https://www.wusa9.com/article/tech/science/environment/data-centers-cause-electric-bill-spike-new-report-says/65-3af6bb57-4704-45c0-9fbf-aaf65daf9b69
6 months ago
0
0
0
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Hot & Toxic
6 months ago
"As a mom, I feel like I have to be a scientist, looking at everything I introduce my child to. It should absolutely come with a warning label. I'm very annoyed it doesn't actually." Lexie is not wrong. NY legislators are voting to
#PutALabelOnGas
. Show your support at
putalabelongas.com
.
loading . . .
0
0
1
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Maryland Matters
6 months ago
Discussions about rising energy costs dominated the 2025 legislative session. But even higher bills are on the way, starting this month. The changes were years in the making, and won't be gone soon, experts and advocates say.
marylandmatters.org/2025/06/05/u...
loading . . .
Despite efforts by lawmakers, energy bills are going up again. Here's why. - Maryland Matters
Discussions about rising energy costs dominated the 2025 legislative session. But even higher bills are on the way, starting this month. The changes were years in the making, and won't be gone soon, e...
https://marylandmatters.org/2025/06/05/utility-bill-rate-increases-june-1/
2
0
1
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
Energy and Policy Institute
6 months ago
$700/hr to argue for higher utility profits. Maine's new bill LD 1949 would cap how much of these rate case costs utilities can pass on to customers. More from
@charliespatz.bsky.social
⤵️ 🔗
energyandpolicy.org/maine-bill-p...
loading . . .
Maine bill proposes cap on rate case charges to utility customers
A new Maine bill, LD 1949 would place limits on the costs utilities can charge their customers for the legal and consulting fees they pay to advocate for rate increases. The bill, introduced by Senato...
https://energyandpolicy.org/maine-bill-proposes-cap-on-rate-case-charges-to-utility-customers/
0
1
2
Between the increases on BGE’s delivery charges and now the supply-side rise, ratepayers are being hit with a “double whammy,” on their energy bills.
add a skeleton here at some point
7 months ago
0
0
0
👀
add a skeleton here at some point
7 months ago
0
0
0
Gas is inherently dangerous but this is beyond the pale.
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/05/29/n...
7 months ago
0
0
0
reposted by
Emily Warfield Scarr
NBC4 Washington
7 months ago
Maryland residents are about to see higher charges on their energy bills unless federal regulators take action, state lawmakers say.
loading . . .
Higher energy bills on the way for Maryland residents
Maryland residents are about to see higher costs on their energy bills unless federal regulators take action, state lawmakers say. A bipartisan group of 87 Maryland senators and delegates sent a lette...
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/higher-energy-bills-on-the-way-for-maryland-residents/3919060/
0
1
2
A group of former Baltimore Gas and Electric workers say the utility aims to silence their efforts to disclose problems with gas pipeline inspections by seeking to hold them in contempt of court.
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/05/21/f...
loading . . .
Former BGE workers accuse utility of filing contempt motion to silence whistleblowers
A group of former Baltimore Gas and Electric workers say the utility aims to silence their efforts to disclose problems with gas pipeline inspections by seeking to hold them in contempt of court. B…
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/05/21/former-bge-workers-accuse-utility-of-filing-contempt-motion-to-silence-whistleblowers/
7 months ago
0
0
0
Always enjoy talking to
@jemillerbalt.bsky.social
- if you haven’t listened or subscribed to her new Maryland politics podcast, you should.
add a skeleton here at some point
7 months ago
0
1
0
Load more
feeds!
log in