Dominic Butchko, Author at Conduit Street

Deep Dive: A Four-Year Review of Major Housing Bills

This article is part of MACo’s Policy Deep Dive series, where expert policy analysts explore and explain the top policy issues of the day. Every four years, the Department of Legislative Services (DLS) publishes its Major Issues Review, highlighting major policy debates and legislation enacted during the preceding legislative term. Few issues received greater attention during the 2023–2026 term than housing. Governor Wes Moore made housing affordability a central component of his first major legislative agenda…

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August 6, 2026

Environment / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works

Bay Goals, Stormwater Realities: What Counties Need to Know

Hear how the state and counties are partnering improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay. The health of the Chesapeake Bay is essential to Maryland’s environment, economy, and quality of life. Clean water supports wildlife, recreation, tourism, agriculture, and communities across the state. Preserving this natural resource requires continued investment in stormwater management, wastewater systems, and aging infrastructure. Counties will play a central role in continuing to advance this work, tailoring restoration efforts to meet…

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August 4, 2026

Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning / Summer Conference

From Need to New Units: Financing Affordable Housing Development

Hear how project financing can help unlock the production of more affordable units. Affordable housing remains one of the most pressing challenges facing Maryland counties, but transforming community need into completed units often depends on whether projects can secure workable financing. Rising construction costs, interest rates, and funding gaps can make it difficult to move rental developments, starter homes, and homeownership opportunities from concept to completion. By focusing on financing tools, public programs, and locally…

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August 4, 2026

Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning / Summer Conference

Seattle Limits Environmental Appeals to Streamline Housing Development

Seattle’s reforms offer lessons for streamlining housing reviews while preserving key safeguards. Seattle eliminated an administrative appeals process that had delayed major zoning reforms and housing development. Environmental reviews remain in place, but challenges must now proceed through the courts or the state’s growth management process. Supporters argue that the former system added months to project timelines while rarely producing meaningful changes, increasing costs and uncertainty as the city works to expand housing supply. Maryland…

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August 3, 2026

Energy / Environment / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works

Exelon Cuts Data Center Demand Forecast After Stricter Review

Exelon sharply reduced its projected data center demand after applying stronger financial and contractual standards. Exelon reduced its estimate of highly probable data center demand from 18 GW to approximately 11 GW after applying stricter financial and contractual standards to proposed projects. The company’s broader data center interconnection pipeline also declined from about 43 GW to 25 GW, indicating that a significant portion of previously proposed demand may have been speculative or insufficiently developed. Transmission…

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August 3, 2026

Planning and Zoning / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works

Moving at the Speed of Need: Permitting for Maryland’s Future

Hear how the state and counties are working to improve permitting in Maryland. The pressure on counties to perfect permit review continues to grow as counties work to meet rising constituent expectations for housing, infrastructure, affordability, and responsive government services. Clear requirements, predictable timelines, and strong coordination across agencies can reduce delays, provide more certainty, and help projects move forward faster. At the same time, counties must carefully balance a complex mix of federal, state,…

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August 3, 2026

Emergency Management / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works

From Risk to Resilience: Local Tools for a Stronger Maryland

Hear how coordinating DPWs with emergency management can strengthen response and protect critical infrastructure. Resilience planning helps counties prepare for disruptions, protect critical infrastructure, and maintain essential services. By coordinating various aspects of core operation (i.e. public works and emergency management), counties can identify vulnerabilities, strengthen infrastructure, and improve how resources are deployed before, during, and after a disaster. This approach supports faster recovery, reduces long-term costs, and helps communities remain safe and operational under…

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August 3, 2026

Environment / Transportation and Public Works

EPA Study Finds Municipal Waste Incineration Can Destroy Most PFAS

EPA testing found that high-temperature municipal waste combustion destroyed or removed approximately 98% of measured PFAS-related compounds. EPA testing at a Florida municipal waste-to-energy facility found that the combustion process destroyed or removed approximately 98% of the PFAS-related compounds used in the study. The facility operates above 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and researchers estimated that its remaining annual PFAS air emissions were relatively low, including minimal PFOA and no detected PFOS. The results suggest municipal waste…

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July 29, 2026

Economic Development / Energy / Environment / Transportation and Public Works

FERC Pushes PJM Governance Reforms Amid Data Center Growth

Federal regulators call for governance reforms at PJM as data center demand, rising costs, and reliability concerns place pressure on regional electric grid. Federal regulators are pressing PJM Interconnection to overhaul its governance and decision-making process as rapid data center growth, limited new generation, and rising capacity prices strain the regional power market. Proposed reforms include strengthening the independence of PJM’s board, reducing the ability of industry sectors to block action, and replacing the current…

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July 28, 2026

Environment / Transportation and Public Works

Proposed Clean Water Changes Spell Trouble for Maryland

Proposed Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) changes spell trouble for Maryland state and local governments. A bipartisan Senate proposal would replace the decades-old formula used to distribute federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund dollars with a system based on current infrastructure needs, population, and poverty levels. The program provides low-interest loans and grants for sewer repairs, wastewater treatment upgrades, stormwater projects, and other water-quality improvements. The revised formula would increase funding for many fast-growing…

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July 28, 2026