Read more about the article Deep Dive: Breaking Down the Utility RELIEF Act Part I
Energy / Environment / Planning and Zoning / Policy Deep Dive
Deep Dive: Breaking Down the Utility RELIEF Act Part I

With the 2026 legislative session now in the rearview mirror, several major bills deserve a closer look. Lawmakers faced a series of consequential and time-sensitive issues this year, forcing difficult decisions that will carry lasting implications for Maryland residents, counties, and the state’s broader policy landscape.  Energy policy, in particular, took center stage. With affordability serving as the watchword of the session, there was intense focus on what the General Assembly would do to address…

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April 29, 2026
Read more about the article Frederick County Uses Libraries To Advance Sustainability Goals
County News / Energy / Environment / Housing and Community Development
Frederick County Uses Libraries To Advance Sustainability Goals

Frederick County is using its library system as a platform to advance sustainability goals, combining energy-efficiency upgrades with expanded access to electric-vehicle infrastructure. Recent projects at libraries in Thurmont, Urbana, and Middletown highlight how everyday public spaces can support broader county priorities around energy use, emissions reduction, and cost savings. At the Thurmont and Urbana Regional libraries, lighting systems were upgraded to energy-efficient LED fixtures, a change expected to deliver both environmental and financial benefits.…

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April 23, 2026
Read more about the article Maine Looks Toward Data Center Ban Citing Rising Energy Costs
Energy / Environment / Planning and Zoning
Maine Looks Toward Data Center Ban Citing Rising Energy Costs

Maine set to limit growth of large data centers over 20 megawatts.  The Maine State Legislature is testing one of the country’s most aggressive responses to data center growth. Lawmakers have approved a statewide pause on new data centers with power needs of 20 megawatts or more through November 2027, while the state studies what these facilities could mean for electric demand, customer bills, and host communities. Currently, Governor Janet Mills is undecided on whether…

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April 21, 2026
Read more about the article FERC to Address Data Center Interconnection in June
Energy / Environment / Planning and Zoning
FERC to Address Data Center Interconnection in June

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is set to establish new data center interconnections standards, impacting on Maryland and surrounding states. FERC indicated that it expects to take action in June on a Department of Energy proposal aimed at improving how very large new electric loads, including data centers, connect to the grid. At the center of the discussion is a familiar but increasingly urgent question: how to accommodate major new demand while maintaining clarity…

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April 21, 2026
Read more about the article 2026 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups
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2026 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. Maryland’s 448th legislative session unfolded under significant fiscal pressure. Lawmakers closed the fiscal 2027 gap, preserved reserves, and fully funded principal commitments, such as the Blueprint, but did not resolve the larger structural deficits projected for the years ahead. That budget pressure shaped debates across nearly every policy area, from…

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April 17, 2026
Read more about the article Conduit Street Podcast: 90 Days Later — Sine Die Recap
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / Elections / Energy / Environment / General Assembly News / Housing and Community Development / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations / MACo Testimony / Public Safety and Corrections / Transportation and Public Works
Conduit Street Podcast: 90 Days Later — Sine Die Recap

This Week on the Conduit Street Podcast, we bring you an episode fresh from Sine Die to break down the 2026 legislative session from start to finish.   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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April 17, 2026
Read more about the article Utility RELIEF Act Takes Center Stage, Counties Call For State-Local Coordination, Adequate Public Safety Standards
Energy / MACo Testimony / Planning and Zoning
Utility RELIEF Act Takes Center Stage, Counties Call For State-Local Coordination, Adequate Public Safety Standards

On March 25, Director of Intergovernmental Relations Dominic Butchko testified before the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in support of HB 1532 – Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act with amendments.  The Utility RELIEF Act continues the momentum of the 2025 and 2026 "Sessions of Energy" by directing wide-ranging changes to Maryland’s energy policy. The bill modifies utility rate structures and cost recovery, adjusts requirements for large energy users and…

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April 2, 2026
Read more about the article HB 1532 Emerges as Session’s Central Energy Bill
Energy
HB 1532 Emerges as Session’s Central Energy Bill

Energy has emerged as a central issue of the 2026 legislative session, with HB 1532 taking shape as the General Assembly’s leadership energy package. Speaker Peña-Melnyk’s Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act has evolved into the primary bill for major energy policy this session. After passing the House in significantly amended form before crossover, HB 1532 now includes a broad mix of proposals with direct implications for local governments. Below is…

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March 24, 2026
Read more about the article Counties Offer Local Perspective On Large-Load Energy Facility Integration
Energy / Environment / MACo Testimony / Planning and Zoning
Counties Offer Local Perspective On Large-Load Energy Facility Integration

On March 12, Director of Intergovernmental Relations Dominic Butchko submitted a letter of information to the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee on SB 992 – Public Utilities - Large Load Customers - Registration and Demand Response Program. This bill would establish a framework for requiring large load customers, primarily data centers, to provide certain information to the Public Service Commission (PSC) before interconnecting in Maryland. While regulation of electric interconnection largely falls outside local…

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March 18, 2026
Read more about the article MACo Advocates For Local Inclusion in State Energy Streamlining Efforts
Energy / MACo Testimony / Planning and Zoning
MACo Advocates For Local Inclusion in State Energy Streamlining Efforts

On March 3, Director of Intergovernmental Relations Dominic Butchko submitted written testimony to the Environment and Transportation Committee in support of HB 1532 - Continuing the Next Generation Energy Act with amendments. This bill, while largely outside of the purview of county governments, directs the Power Plant Research Program to produce a study on streamlining energy zoning and permitting. County/community input and coordination should be a component of the visioning process in the bill. Recent…

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March 5, 2026
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