Dominic Butchko, Author at Conduit Street

New Study Flags 2030 Reliability Risks for PJM

A new study warns that surging data center demand could leave PJM without enough power to reliably meet electricity needs by 2030. A new study commissioned by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission warns that rapid electricity demand growth, driven largely by data center development, could push the PJM Interconnection outside its reliability standard by 2030. Under the study’s reference case, which uses PJM’s 2026 load forecast, the projected risk of power shortages would be nearly…

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September 22, 2026

Environment

Maryland Weighs Impact of Changes to Federal Bay Policy

New federal executive order changes the framework for Chesapeake Bay restoration, prompting officials to assess impacts on funding and coordination. President Donald Trump has rescinded a 2009 Obama-era executive order that established a federal framework for coordinating Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. The new order directs federal agencies to focus resources on projects the administration considers most likely to produce measurable water-quality improvements and encourages states and local governments to reconsider stormwater management fees. Maryland officials…

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September 22, 2026

Environment

Bay Underwater Grasses Expanded Nearly 13%

DNR data shows expansive bay grass growth in 2025. Underwater grass abundance increased in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries last year. In Maryland’s portion of the Bay, underwater grass coverage expanded from 36,799 acres in 2024 to 41,419 acres in 2025, an increase of nearly 13% in a single year. Bay-wide, SAV acreage reached an estimated 89,385 acres – up 7% from 83,252 acres in 2024. The 2025 acreage represents about 36% of…

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September 22, 2026

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

Deep Dive: A Primer on Data Centers

One of the fastest-growing policy issues facing county governments is the rapid expansion of the data center industry. Historically, data centers attracted relatively limited public attention and were often viewed as low-impact components of the broader digital infrastructure. However, as facilities have grown in size, increased in number, and expanded beyond traditional industrial areas, their impacts have become more visible to nearby communities and policymakers. At the same time, the General Assembly has placed increasing…

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September 16, 2026

Energy / Environment

EPA Rolls Back Power Plant Climate Rules

EPA is rolling back power plant climate rules, with potential implications for local energy costs, reliability, public health, and climate planning. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is repealing Biden-era limits on greenhouse gas emissions from coal- and natural gas-fired power plants and pursuing a separate rule that could restrict future federal regulation of power-sector climate pollution. The administration says the changes will reduce industry compliance costs, help keep existing power plants operating, and give utilities…

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September 16, 2026

Environment / Transportation and Public Works

Local Tools for Funding Climate Resilience

Local governments are exploring new tools to finance climate resilience as federal funding becomes less certain. As federal funding becomes less predictable, local governments are looking at alternative ways to finance climate resilience and strengthen their ability to plan for extreme weather. Below are three approaches that could help jurisdictions expand capacity and move projects forward despite tighter funding conditions. Layer Programs and Funding Sources. Rather than relying on a single grant or initiative, local…

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September 8, 2026

County Budgets / Economic Development / Energy / Environment / Finance and Procurement / Information Technology / Planning and Zoning / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues / Transportation and Public Works

WV Builds Data Center Strategy Around Growth and Local Revenue

West Virginia is pairing incentives for data center development with a statewide plan to distribute new revenue among host counties, infrastructure needs, and tax relief. West Virginia is positioning itself as a major destination for data center development, with state officials announcing two new projects valued at more than $81 billion. The announcements build on a broader push that state leaders say has generated approximately $96 billion in private-sector investment and more than 19,000 projected…

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September 8, 2026

Energy / Environment / Transportation and Public Works

New Analysis Projects Significant Renewable Energy Slowdown

Changes in federal energy policy slow renewable energy development and will likely contribute to higher electricity costs over the next decade. Federal energy policy changes could significantly slow the development of new renewable energy projects over the next decade, according to new modeling from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The analysis estimates that changes to federal tax incentives, tariffs, and offshore wind policies could result in between 390 and 540 gigawatts less wind, solar,…

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September 8, 2026

Energy / Environment / Housing and Community Development / Transportation and Public Works

More States and Localities Adopt Rental Cooling Requirements

As extreme heat intensifies, states and counties are adopting new requirements to ensure rental housing has adequate cooling. As extreme heat becomes more frequent and dangerous, state and local governments are increasingly reconsidering whether access to working air conditioning should be treated as a basic housing requirement. Houston recently adopted rules requiring landlords to provide and maintain cooling in rental units, joining jurisdictions such as Phoenix, New York City, Dallas, and Austin that have established…

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August 31, 2026

Environment / Information Technology / Transportation and Public Works

Feds Set to Unveil Cyber Program for Water Utilities

Federal officials are preparing a new cybersecurity program to help water and wastewater utilities strengthen defenses against growing cyber threats. The federal government is preparing to launch a new cybersecurity assistance program aimed at helping water and wastewater systems strengthen their defenses against cyberattacks. Led by the Office of the National Cyber Director, the initiative is expected to connect states and utilities with private-sector cybersecurity firms. The effort is particularly focused on systems with limited…

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August 31, 2026