Maryland Now is brought to you by Blended Public Affairs
Why 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.
With 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.
In this episode:
- Why Maryland imports roughly 40% of its power and what that means for prices
- How PJM, the regional grid, fits in and whether it deserves the blame
- Why solar helps with baseline costs but not peak capacity, and what batteries can add
- Why local opposition keeps slowing solar, battery and wind projects
- Whether natural gas should be a “bridge fuel” while renewables catch up
- Data centers: villain, savior, or both? “Bring your own generation” and the property tax upside
- Why Maryland’s climate targets may be out of reach, and what the Climate Change Commission is weighing
- Mike’s one policy change, and a 10 year forecast for Maryland’s energy picture
Maryland Now is brought to you by Blended Public Affairs. Technical support by Nate Carper, Carper Creative.
What is Maryland Now?
Maryland Now is a podcast that goes beyond the headlines to explore the forces shaping Maryland’s politics, policy, and public life. Hosted by Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin — three veteran journalists and public‑affairs leaders with more than 60 years of combined experience — the show brings depth, context, and historical perspective to the issues facing Maryland today.
Each episode blends reporting, interviews, and insider knowledge. You’ll hear directly from the people driving decisions in Annapolis and across the state: agency heads, lawmakers, advocates, strategists, and longtime policy experts. The hosts draw on their decades covering and working in Maryland government to connect past decisions to current debates — revealing how we got here, what’s been tried before, and what’s at stake now.
Season One follows the 2026 General Assembly session and election cycle, with deep dives into housing, energy, the state budget, public health, and more. The conversations are smart, candid, and grounded in real reporting — not hot takes.
If you want to understand Maryland — its politics, its communities, and its future — Maryland Now is for YOU