Maryland lawmakers have introduced a bill in the state legislature that sponsors say would provide an easier path to build new power plants, including natural gas-fired facilities, and lower utility bills for ratepayers as part of the process.
The Next Generation Energy Act is among bills that legislative leaders in recent weeks said they would push to produce more energy within the state, and in turn reduce costs for electricity customers. Maryland imports 40% of its electricity. The legislation would encourage construction of new generation facilities, as long as they are power plants considered cleaner than those burning coal or oil.
Proponents also have said the legislation would provide more regulatory certainty for the state’s utilities as they do long-term planning, and would support construction of solar energy and battery storage facilities. State officials have said new generation is needed as demand for electricity is increasing and expected to continue to rise due to the impact of energy-intensive data centers and other industrial complexes. Talen Energy recently reached agreement with the PJM Interconnection regional grid operator to keep a large coal-fired power plant, and a major oil-fired facility, online well beyond their scheduled retirement dates.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright in an address on March 10 at the CERAWeek conference in Houston, Texas, said, “Natural gas is the largest source of home heating in the United States. It is central to the rapidly growing petrochemical industry and the largest supplier of processed heat for manufacturing steel, cement, countless metals, gypsum, semiconductors, polysilicon and thousands of other materials. Oh yes, and natural gas is also responsible for 43% of U.S. electricity.” Wright, an oil and gas executive whose Dept. of Energy (DOE) has pledged to support fossil fuels, added that “Beyond the obvious scale and cost problems, there is simply no physical way that wind, solar and batteries could replace the myriad uses of natural gas.”
Wright also said the DOE will support nuclear power. “We are working to launch the long-awaited American nuclear renaissance, fission and fusion,” said Wright. “We want more reliable, affordable, secure energy.”
Maryland is just one of many states looking to expand power generation from natural gas. Want more information? Read “Hundreds of New Gas-Fired Units Planned as U.S. Gas Output Soars.”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, already is on record as supporting legislation backing nuclear energy and other carbon-free energy sources. The governor has said he wants to increase the amount of clean energy produced in the state, while making Maryland’s energy system more resilient. Moore also is among those calling for regional grid operator PJM Interconnection to help reduce energy costs by lowering its price cap ahead of its 2026/2027 capacity auction.
Natural Gas in Maryland
Sponsors of the Next Generation Energy Act at a recent hearing said there is an “urgent need” to lower utility bills by building more power generation facilities. Bill Ferguson, a Democrat and president of the Maryland Senate, and the bill’s main sponsor, at the hearing said, “Our top priority must be to expedite the construction of new, cleaner energy in Maryland.” The bill also says that any new natural gas-fired power plant would need the ability burn hydrogen, or zero-emissions biofuel, and use carbon capture technology in the future.
The bill establishes a procurement process for new dispatchable electricity and nuclear energy projects. Distachable power is electricity production that can be turned on or off, or otherwise adjusted to meet demand, depending on the needs of the power grid.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has said Maryland is among the states with lowest per-capita use of natural gas, although gas-fired power plants in 2023 provided more of the in-state electricity than nuclear power for the first time. The state’s largest gas-fired power plant is NRG Energy’s Chalk Point Generating Station, which has two operating units and about 1,300 MW of generation capacity. Officials have said that six coal-fired power plants, representing more than 3,200 MW of capacity, in the state have closed since 2018.
C.T. Wilson, a Democratic delegate in the State Assembly, and chairman of the Maryland House Economic Matters Committee, in a recent interview with the Spotlight on Maryland news service said, “Maryland, itself, has never been closed to [natural gas]. We obviously understand that it’s still legal. In years past, we tried to move away from that, but knowing where the battle lines are, we have, of course we are open to that, even for the short-term.”
Ferguson said the bill would make permitting and siting for energy projects easier in order to get them up and running more quickly. He acknowledged that includes natural gas-fired power plants, along with solar and wind power projects, and also support for nuclear power. “Natural gas has to be considered,” Ferguson said, noting lawmakers would like to have projects in the construction pipeline by the end of the year.
One Nuclear Power Plant
Maryland is home to one nuclear power plant, the 1,790-MW Calvert Cliffs facility on Chesapeake Bay near Lusby. The plant accounts for about 40% of the state’s electricity, according to government data.
“Maryland is clearly committed to a clean energy future that is sustainable, environmentally responsible, and environmentally conscious. But the bottom line is that Maryland cannot get there without nuclear energy,” said Ed McGinnis, president and CEO of Curio, a nuclear energy technology and commercialization group. McGinnis is a long-time nuclear power industry insider, including several years in executive roles with the DOE. “In fact, 40% of Maryland’s electricity is provided by nuclear energy, the largest non-carbon emitting energy source in the state by far.”
McGinnis, though, said the state also must address the issue of nuclear waste, and should also lead efforts to recycle nuclear fuel. McGinnis told POWER, “There is enough remaining energy in our so-called nuclear waste to meet U.S. electricity needs for the next 150 years according to U.S. scientists. Moving toward and realizing a sustainable, resource maximization and circular-based economy is the obvious and most responsible path forward. Maryland is in a position to lead us in this most important sector by recycling our nuclear waste.”
“The Next Generation Energy Act reflects Maryland’s attempt to navigate the sustainability trilemma of ensuring energy security, affordability, and climate mandates,” said Philip Duah with the Missouri University of Science and Technology. “The fact is that Maryland is facing an energy crisis of maximum proportion. Importing about 40% of energy needs is deeply concerning, not just for energy security but also because this imported electricity may come from more carbon-intensive sources in neighboring states. By encouraging in-state clean generation, Maryland can take greater responsibility for its carbon footprint.”
Duah told POWER, “Several pieces of legislation addressing the energy crisis have already been introduced that seek to boost nuclear energy and other carbon-free energy sources, which aligns better with long-term sustainability goals than expanded natural gas infrastructure. The critical question for Maryland’s energy future isn’t simply about increasing in-state generation, but ensuring that new capacity aligns with both immediate reliability needs and long-term climate objectives.”
Support for Renewable Energy
Environmental groups, while recognizing the need for more generation resources within the state, also said legislation should prioritize renewable energy.
“Maryland’s Next Generation Energy Act is a step toward energy independence and sustainability. Streamlining approvals for non-coal and non-oil power generation can reduce reliance on imported electricity and boost renewables and energy storage,” said Abigail Wellman, an environmental expert specializing in wildlife conservation and habitat restoration at TeamPlanting, a sustainability group that supports reforestation and conservation initiatives. “However, prioritizing natural gas—while cleaner than coal—still extends fossil fuel dependency. The legislation would be most effective if it strongly incentivizes wind, solar, and battery storage to ensure a resilient and environmentally responsible energy future.”
“We want to see the continued growth of solar in Maryland as it provides cheap energy, and it doesn’t impact the climate or air quality. As well as providing new jobs for rural communties In Maryland. It is a win win win,” said Aidan Charron, associate director of Global Earth Day at EARTHDAY.org. “Maryland is already committed to substantial growth in solar power, with the state aiming for 50% renewable energy by 2030 … EARTHDAY.ORG applauds that goal. If Maryland’s leaders are serious about tackling climate change, providing clean, cheaper energy then they need to back renewable energy for good. Not gas.”
—Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
