Maryland State Capital building in Annapolis, Maryland.
February 2025 Updates
Ratepayer Protection Act Advances: New legislation aims to reform the Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement Plan (STRIDE program) that has led to soaring gas utility bills, with gas customers seeing delivery rates triple since 2010. The bill would:
- Require utilities to ensure their gas infrastructure spending is cost-effective
- Mandate consideration of non-pipeline alternatives to gas infrastructure projects
- Create new consumer protection measures around infrastructure spending
- Establish two-year notice requirements for customers before infrastructure work begins
- Introduce stricter oversight of utility cost recovery mechanisms
Legislature Tackles Grid Reliability Crisis: Maryland lawmakers are responding to PJM’s agreement to keep 2 GW of coal and oil generation online through 2029 at Brandon Shores and H.A. Wagner plants with multiple bills addressing transmission upgrades and accelerated clean energy deployment, including:
The New Generation Energy Act (Ferguson/Jones) which aims to:
- Lower Maryland’s reliance on out-of-state energy (currently 40%)
- Reduce the need for additional transmission lines
- Allow state control over energy source selection
- Require the Public Service Commission (PSC) to fast-track RFPs for new energy generation to replace coal/oil capacity
The Renewable Energy Certainty Act (Feldman/Wilson) which would:
- Set statewide standards for solar and battery storage projects
- Remove local roadblocks to project construction
- Create streamlined permitting processes
- Establish study requirements for utility partnerships in clean energy projects
The Resource Adequacy and Planning Act creates:
- An independent office within PSC to improve state-level planning and reduce reliance on PJM for forecasting
- Requirements for better state-level planning on 2-10 year energy needs
- Coordination mechanisms between state agencies on energy planning
Clean Energy Goals Face Grid Hurdles: Maryland’s ambitious Climate Solutions Now Act targets of 60% emissions reduction by 2031 and net-zero by 2045 are being challenged by interconnection delays and transmission constraints. This has prompted the Maryland legislature to prioritize grid modernization, with the Resource Adequacy and Planning Act creating an independent office within PSC to improve state-level planning.
Clean Heat Standard Development: Maryland’s Department of the Environment is continuing stakeholder engagement on Clean Heat Standard regulations, with draft rules expected in early 2025. The standards aim to accelerate the transition to zero-emission heating equipment while ensuring energy affordability.