Read more about the article May in Maryland: What’s News, What’s Noise?
County Budgets / County Government and Structure / County News / Elections / Energy / Environment / General Assembly News / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues
May in Maryland: What’s News, What’s Noise?

We're back with another special edition of the Conduit Street Podcast, with the MACo team taking up several issues from this month's headlines, and trying to sort out which are the real stories (news) and which are more smoke than fire (noise). Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!  

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May 29, 2026
Read more about the article The Briefing Room Ep 3: Where Our Power Comes From
County News / Economic Development / Energy / Environment / Feature / Planning and Zoning / Risk Management / Transportation and Public Works
The Briefing Room Ep 3: Where Our Power Comes From

In Episode 3 of The Briefing Room, Maryland’s energy picture comes into sharper focus. Host Dom Butchko is joined by Public Service Commission Chair Kumar Barve to unpack one of the biggest questions facing the state: where does our power actually come from?   Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!

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May 26, 2026
Read more about the article Data Centers Will Continue to Drive High Energy Demand
Energy / Environment / Transportation and Public Works
Data Centers Will Continue to Drive High Energy Demand

A new federal report projects data centers are likely to drive high energy demand well into the 2050s.  A new federal energy outlook underscores that data centers are becoming a major force in electricity planning. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), server-related energy use could account for as much as one-third of all commercial building electricity consumption by 2050 under a high-demand scenario. That grow is being driven in large part by artificial…

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May 26, 2026
Read more about the article EPA Puts Forward New Federal PFAS Mitigation Strategy
Environment / Transportation and Public Works
EPA Puts Forward New Federal PFAS Mitigation Strategy

The EPA has recently put forward a new federal PFAS mitigation strategy, which focuses on tackling PFAS across its full lifecycle.  Last week, leadership from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new federal strategy to address PFAS contamination nationwide. The effort focuses on the full PFAS lifecycle and is backed by nearly $1 billion in new funding for states to address PFAS in…

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May 26, 2026
Read more about the article Frederick Pollinator Initiative Connects Sustainability Goals With Local Land Stewardship
Agriculture / County News / Environment / Intergovernmental Relations / News You Can Use
Frederick Pollinator Initiative Connects Sustainability Goals With Local Land Stewardship

Frederick County and the City of Frederick have officially earned the Bee City USA designation, joining a national network of communities that use local policies and land management practices to support pollinator health and ecological sustainability. While the designation focuses on pollinator protection, local officials say the effort also connects to broader conversations around land stewardship, habitat management, sustainability planning, and environmental resilience. Bee City USA affiliates commit to supporting pollinator-friendly practices through local government…

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May 22, 2026
Read more about the article State Initiative Targets Eastern Shore Climate Resilience Through Nature-Based Projects
A low marsh in Dorchester County. DNR photo
County News / Environment / News You Can Use
State Initiative Targets Eastern Shore Climate Resilience Through Nature-Based Projects

A new statewide initiative aims to help Eastern Shore communities adapt to growing climate pressures through investments in wetlands, forests, living shorelines, and other nature-based resilience projects. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently launched “Roots for Resilience: Strong Roots for a Changing Landscape,” a climate adaptation initiative supported by $42.5 million in federal funding focused on strengthening vulnerable Eastern Shore ecosystems and communities. From the press release: “Roots for Resilience will be a…

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May 21, 2026
Read more about the article Climate Resilience Summit Seeks Strategies To Prevent Small Business Displacement
Economic Development / Emergency Management / Environment / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations / Risk Management
Climate Resilience Summit Seeks Strategies To Prevent Small Business Displacement

As local governments continue investing in climate resilience, disaster recovery, and infrastructure improvements, a growing conversation is emerging around how those efforts can unintentionally contribute to displacement, particularly for small businesses in vulnerable communities. The 2026 Small Business Anti-Displacement Network Summit is seeking proposals focused on equitable climate resilience and recovery strategies that help small businesses remain rooted in place as communities adapt to climate pressures. The virtual summit, scheduled for Nov. 12–13, is co-hosted…

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May 20, 2026
Read more about the article Emergency Order Highlights Grid Pressure From Data Center Growth
Energy / Environment / Transportation and Public Works
Emergency Order Highlights Grid Pressure From Data Center Growth

DoE emergency order allowing PJM to curtail power use at data centers underscores concerns over grid reliability in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic. The PJM received emergency approval from the U.S. Department of Energy to temporarily reduce power use at data centers and other large energy users with backup generation during a stretch of hot weather across the Mid-Atlantic. The request came as the grid operator faced higher demand, planned spring maintenance outages, and tighter-than-usual reserve…

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May 20, 2026
Read more about the article The Briefing Room Ep 2: How PJM Shapes Maryland’s Energy Future
County News / Energy / Environment / Feature / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations
The Briefing Room Ep 2: How PJM Shapes Maryland’s Energy Future

In Episode 2 of The Briefing Room’s energy series, Dom Butchko sits down with Jason Stanek, Executive Director of Governmental Services at PJM Interconnection, to unpack the role of energy regions in Maryland’s power future.   Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!

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May 19, 2026
Read more about the article DNR: Blue Crab Population Up 46% From Last Year
Environment
DNR: Blue Crab Population Up 46% From Last Year

DNR's Winter Dredge Survey shows blue crab populations are up 46 percent compared to a year ago.  The Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey, a cooperative effort between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, estimates a total of 349 million blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay in 2026, a 46% increase over the estimate of 238 million crabs last year. The survey also estimated 228 million juvenile…

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May 18, 2026
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