{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Maryland Now","title":"Not in My Backyard: Data Centers, Power Bills and Maryland’s Energy Squeeze","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2131,"description":"Maryland Now is brought to you by Blended Public Affairs\nWhy are Maryland’s energy costs climbing, and who’s to blame? In this episode of Maryland Now, Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz and David Nitkin are joined by return guest Mike Powell, an attorney with Gordon Feinblatt’s energy and environmental practice and the former lead attorney for the Maryland Department of the Environment. Mike was on our very first episode, which looked back at electricity deregulation in the 1990s.\nWith affordability a top issue in an election year, Mike breaks down why it’s a simple story of supply and demand. Maryland imports about 40% of its power, plants have retired faster than new demand has been served, and solar alone can’t cover peak needs. We also dig into data centers, BGE and Pepco rate increases, the state’s aggressive climate goals, offshore wind, and the political fight over whose backyard gets the next power project.\nIn this episode:\nWhy Maryland imports roughly 40% of its power and what that means for prices\nHow PJM, the regional grid, fits in and whether it deserves the blame\nWhy solar helps with baseline costs but not peak capacity, and what batteries can add\nWhy local opposition keeps slowing solar, battery and wind projects\nWhether natural gas should be a “bridge fuel” while renewables catch up\nData centers: villain, savior, or both? “Bring your own generation” and the property tax upside\nWhy Maryland’s climate targets may be out of reach, and what the Climate Change Commission is weighing\nMike’s one policy change, and a 10 year forecast for Maryland’s energy picture\n\nQuestions or ideas for a future episode? Email us at marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com, and find us on Facebook.\nMaryland Now is brought to you by Blended Public Affairs. Technical support by Nate Carper, Carper Creative.","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/cWPrI2HtFRFi4-cEgG9AilW5PwDl7N2ksf_B2iAK6ck/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9mMjlm/MWRkNGZkYjQxNzZh/ZjI0NTRjNmVmNTg2/NjBjMC5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}