As Maryland heads toward another consequential legislative session, energy policy is once again front and center, and counties are feeling the pressure.

In this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, hosts Kevin Kinnally and Dominic Butchko are joined by Valencia McClure, Senior Vice President of Governmental, Regulatory, and External Affairs at Exelon, for a wide-ranging conversation on energy security, rising costs, and grid reliability.

The discussion explores why Maryland is facing growing risks, including surging demand driven by data centers and electrification, limited in-state generation capacity, and an aging grid. McClure explains what it means for Maryland to be a net importer of electricity, why supply costs are driving up residents' bills, and how projected shortfalls could lead to brownouts as early as 2027 if action is delayed.

The episode also dives into the evolving policy debate over who should build new generation, the role utilities could play alongside merchant generators, and why counties, though not energy regulators, are often on the front lines when reliability falters or costs spike.

For county leaders, policymakers, and anyone trying to understand what’s behind today’s energy headlines, this conversation offers timely context on the challenges ahead and the decisions that will shape Maryland’s energy future.

Learn More:

Maryland Power Supply Crisis | Take Back Our Power MD

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