Blog – Conduit Street

Data Center Demand Drives Higher PJM Capacity Costs

Rising data center electricity demand is increasing PJM capacity costs and prompting new proposals for managing large energy users. Monitoring Analytics, PJM Interconnection's independent market monitor, estimates that data center demand accounted for an estimated $6.3 billion, or 38%, of the costs from PJM’s latest capacity auction. Across the grid operator’s last four auctions, data center-related charges totaled about $29.4 billion, increasing capacity, energy, and transmission costs for customers throughout the region. Several proposals under…

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July 21, 2026

The Briefing Room: Inside the Private Side of Housing Finance

Building affordable housing takes more than public funding. Private lenders and investors play a critical role in turning plans into completed projects. In Episode 4 of The Briefing Room's housing finance series, Dom Butchko and Terry Hickey are joined by Jordan Bishop of JPMorganChase to explore the private side of the capital stack - the financing that helps transform housing plans into completed communities. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you…

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July 21, 2026

Health and Human Services / Public Safety and Corrections / Summer Conference

“Eric’s ID Law” Sees Strong Uptake Across Maryland

Maryland's "Eric's ID Law" is gaining traction, with thousands of residents opting into the state's voluntary hidden disability identification program, and other states beginning to follow its lead. According to a Maryland Matters article, less than a year after Maryland launched its voluntary butterfly logo program for driver's licenses and identification cards, more than 22,000 Marylanders have requested the symbol, highlighting significant demand for tools that help identify individuals with nonapparent disabilities during interactions with…

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July 21, 2026

Energy / Environment / Summer Conference

Amid Energy Crisis, Federal Regulators Examine PJM Operations

Federal regulators are reviewing PJM operations amid rising electricity demand and reliability concerns. PJM’s latest capacity auction secured nearly 7 gigawatts less generation than its reliability target and attracted only about 500 megawatts of new supply, adding to concerns about the region’s ability to meet growing electricity demand. Federal regulators are examining changes to PJM’s governance and stakeholder process to improve transparency, accelerate decision-making, and support timely investment in new generation and transmission. According to…

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July 21, 2026

Emergency Management / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works

From Risk to Resilience: Local Tools for a Stronger Maryland

Explore how Maryland counties can align resilience planning, financing, and technical support to turn climate goals into projects that protect communities. Resiliency planning is essential for helping counties prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies while strengthening the infrastructure and systems communities rely on every day. By bringing elements of emergency planning and public works together, counties can better identify vulnerabilities, coordinate resources, and design projects that reduce risks before disasters occur. This collaborative…

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July 21, 2026

Education / Summer Conference

US House of Representatives Panel Advances Plan to Reshape Federal Education Oversight

A congressional committee has approved legislation that would permanently redistribute many of the U.S. Department of Education's responsibilities to other federal agencies, advancing a broader effort to redefine the federal government's role in education. The US House of Representatives Committee on Education and Workforce has advanced a package of bills intended to codify the Trump administration's initiative to discontinue the operations of the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). The effort permanently transfers many of the…

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July 21, 2026

Information Technology / Summer Conference

Cyber Security Strategies for County Government

MACo’s 2026 Summer Conference Solutions Showcase features thought leaders and industry experts presenting resources and best practices to assist local governments. Check out this session hosted by Comcast! About Comcast: The Comcast products and services provide a significant value and are scalable to meet the needs of your organization. Comcast treats customer service with the utmost importance; as such, they assign a dedicated account executive to your account to ensure the best customer experience. Their network is built to serve your business today…

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July 21, 2026

Government Liability and Courts / Public Safety and Corrections

Statewide Speed Camera Report Offers New Insights on Habitual Offenders

A new evaluation from the Maryland Department of Legislative Services (DLS) finds that automated speed enforcement continues to reduce speeding at camera locations while also shedding new light on the relatively small number of drivers responsible for the state's most serious speeding violations. The Maryland Department of Legislative Services (DLS) recently released its Evaluation of Speed Monitoring Systems, offering lawmakers and local officials a comprehensive look at how automated speed enforcement is performing across the…

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July 21, 2026

County News / Feature / General Assembly News

Presiding Officers: Special Session Limited to Redistricting

Maryland legislative leaders have directed the Department of Legislative Services (DLS) to accept bill drafting requests for the August 3-5 Special Session only if they relate directly to congressional redistricting. In a letter to members of the General Assembly, Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk said the Special Session is being reconvened for the limited purpose of considering legislation related to congressional redistricting standards. To keep the session focused on that purpose,…

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July 21, 2026

County News / Health and Human Services / Information Technology / Summer Conference

Preparing Communities for AI Risks Facing Older Adults at #MACoCon

As artificial intelligence becomes part of everyday life, helping older adults safely navigate its opportunities and risks is an increasingly important role. Artificial intelligence is changing how people access information. From virtual assistants and online banking to healthcare portals and customer service chatbots, AI-powered tools are becoming commonplace, and increasingly unavoidable. At the same time, scammers are leveraging these same technologies to create increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes, making it more difficult than ever to distinguish…

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July 20, 2026