Dominic Butchko, Author at Conduit Street

MACo Hosts Meeting to Address Housing Needs in Rural Maryland

MACo hosted a meeting of the Rural Maryland Council's Housing Working Committee to discuss legislative ideas for the upcoming 2027 legislative session. Earlier this week, MACo hosted the Rural Maryland Council’s Housing Working Committee for a discussion on potential legislation for the 2027 General Assembly session. Although housing policy has remained at the forefront in Annapolis, many of the solutions considered to date have focused primarily on urban and suburban communities, leaving rural jurisdictions with…

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July 16, 2026

Environment

Short-Term Bay Health Improves with Best Dissolved Oxygen on Record

Early data shows an improvement in the health of the bay as dissolved oxygen conditions are best on record for early season. Data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Old Dominion University show lower than average volumes of hypoxia—waters with less than 2 mg/l of oxygen—in the Chesapeake Bay mainstem of Maryland and Virginia from May to late June 2026. No hypoxia was observed in May, one of ten years with no…

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July 15, 2026

Housing and Community Development / Transportation and Public Works

Maryland Awards $1B in Affordable Housing Financing

In FY 2026, Maryland awarded over $1 billion in affordable housing funds, underlining the need for more work to support project financing. For the 2026 fiscal year, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development awarded low-income housing tax credits and provided financing through state rental housing funds, the Multifamily Bond Program, and energy efficiency programs with an estimated value of more than $1 billion to create or preserve 3,025 affordable rental units. Funding was…

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July 15, 2026

Energy / Environment / Transportation and Public Works

National Grid Generated Record Breaking Output During Heatwave

During the heat wave earlier this month, the national electric grid generated a historic 100,996 gigwatt-hours, reaching 20 percent higher than average demand. U.S. electric output hit an all-time high earlier this month, surpassing 100,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) for the first time ever, according to data released today by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI). Output for the week of June 28-July 4, 2026, reached 100,996 GWh, breaking the previous record of 99,445 GWh set nearly…

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July 14, 2026

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

Green Banks Unlock New Investment for Local Infrastructure #MACoCon

Green banks could help counties bundle resilience projects, attract institutional investment, and expand funding for critical local infrastructure. Counties, particular smaller and more rural jurisdictions, often struggle to finance resilience, energy, and green infrastructure projects because smaller individual projects are generally too fragmented to attract pension funds, insurance companies, and other large institutional investors. Although these investors control significant amounts of capital and seek stable, long-term returns, they typically lack an efficient way to evaluate…

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July 13, 2026

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

The Electric Slide – AI, Data Centers, and Counties #MACoCon

Explore how AI and data center growth is reshaping energy demand, infrastructure, affordability, land use, and economic development for Maryland counties. The rapid growth of artificial intelligence and data centers presents important opportunities and challenges for counties. These facilities can support economic development and expand the local tax base, but they also create significant demands on critical infrastructure. Counties must balance competing considerations to ensure development occurs responsibly and that surrounding communities share in the…

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July 13, 2026

Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning

Deep Dive: Breaking Down the Housing Certainty Act

2026 will likely be remembered as the first session of affordability, with cost-of-living issues at the very top of the General Assembly’s legislative agenda. The two main focus areas were energy and housing policy, as costs in both areas have been growing faster than inflation and taking up an increasingly larger share of household budgets. On the housing front, the central bill passed by legislators was the Housing Certainty Act or HCA (HB548/SB325), which made…

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July 8, 2026

Environment / News You Can Use

Blue Crab Report Provides Mixed Outlook

The 2026 Blue Crab Advisory Report shows modest improvement, but continued caution is needed as the population remains below its long-term average. The 2026 Blue Crab Advisory Report shows a cautiously positive but still fragile outlook for the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population. Juvenile crab numbers improved, helping lift the overall population from last year’s low point. Still, the total estimated population remains below the long-term average, meaning the rebound is encouraging but not yet…

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July 7, 2026

Energy / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works

Moore Admin. Urges Feds To Drop Utility Fees as Energy Prices Rise

Governor Moore, along with the PSC and OPC, filed a complaint with FERC to end unfair surcharges costing Maryland ratepayers tens of millions of dollars. Last week, Governor Wes Moore joined by the Public Service Commission and Office of People’s Counsel in filing a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to end an unfair surcharge costing Maryland ratepayers tens of millions of dollars. The General Assembly passed the Utility RELIEF Act in the…

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July 6, 2026

Planning and Zoning / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works

Building the Bigger Picture at #MACoCon

Infrastructure policy remains a core focus for counties, especially at the intersections of affordability, environmental policy, growth management, and quality of life concerns. Infrastructure is a key concern for counties because it affects how communities function day to day and how they prepare for the future. From transportation and utilities to public facilities and basic services, strong infrastructure helps support residents, businesses, and local economies. As needs change over time, counties must continue working to…

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July 6, 2026