Baltimore Gas and Electric Company’s recent warnings about rolling blackouts misrepresent the real causes behind Maryland’s energy crisis and do not recognize the immediate solution that is in front of us (“Regular rolling blackouts may become reality for Maryland’s energy grid,” June 7).

While BGE blames electric vehicles and remote work for rising demand, they ignore that PJM Interconnection — our regional grid operator — has connected just one new clean energy project since 2020 despite the fact there are over 2,000 clean energy projects in their queue. Meanwhile, states including Maine and Minnesota now get over 30% of their electricity from wind and solar without experiencing Maryland’s dramatic rate spikes.

The truth? Solar and wind power are now 50% cheaper than gas-fired electricity, yet PJM continues delaying clean energy projects that would bring costs down for families. When challenged by lawmakers earlier this year, PJM quickly agreed to lower rates by 25%, leaving us to question whether they have been price-gouging consumers all along.

BGE mentions data centers driving demand, but fails to note that no data center has been built in Maryland yet and Maryland’s estimated contribution of energy demand from PJM due to data centers is less than 1%. And It should be noted as we watch our utility rates increase that BGE itself has made $4.4 billion in profits since 2010, largely from their “Operation Pipeline” gas infrastructure program. This is the same program that has resulted in tripled delivery rates without proper cost controls or safety prioritization.

While the original article reports on the apparent reliability of fossil fuels, it does not report on the hidden costs of price volatility, pollution-related health impacts and climate damages that Maryland families ultimately pay. The cheapest and quickest way to generate more energy in Maryland is for PJM to green-light the renewable projects they have in the queue.

Instead of locking us into decades of volatile fossil fuel costs, Maryland should demand PJM approve the solar and storage projects already in their pipeline. Independent economists estimate families would save over $500 annually if PJM simply connected more clean energy to the grid.

Marylanders deserve energy reliability and the best way to assure this is to rapidly build clean, affordable and renewable power.

— Kim Coble, Annapolis

The writer is executive director of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

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