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Maryland's Energy Poverty Crisis Deepens as Federal Cuts Erode Safety Net

Maryland faces severe energy poverty crisis as federal cuts to LIHEAP and SNAP programs leave vulnerable households without utility assistance during extreme weather.

This news matters because energy poverty directly threatens public health and survival, particularly for vulnerable populations including children, seniors, and low-income families. When households must choose between refrigeration for medications and air conditioning during extreme heat, or between heating and groceries in winter, it creates life-threatening situations. The erosion of federal support programs combined with rising utility costs disproportionately affects communities already struggling with economic hardship, potentially leading to increased hospitalizations, food insecurity, and preventable deaths. As climate change intensifies extreme weather events, the failure to address energy poverty systematically means more Americans will face impossible choices between basic necessities, undermining public health and social stability while exacerbating existing economic inequalities.