Energy Archives

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

Agriculture / Energy / Feature / Health and Human Services / NACo Achievement Awards

Frederick County Earns National Recognition for Innovation, Public Health, and More

Frederick County brought home three honors in the 2026 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards, earning national recognition for programs addressing overdose prevention, agricultural innovation, and building energy performance. Overdose Prevention Efforts Earn Best in Category Frederick County earned Best in Category in Human Services for its “Narcan Deployment and Training Across Frederick County Significantly Reduces Overdose Rates” initiative. With overdose deaths in Frederick County decreasing each year since 2022, the County has taken a…

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August 25, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Cyber / Elections / Energy / Environment / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Human Resources / Information Technology / Planning and Zoning / Summer Conference

Summer MACoCon Is Over but the Conversations Continue

The 2026 Summer MACoCon might be over, but many of the conversations that filled the convention center's halls are ongoing. In this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Shantelle Malcolm-Lym is joined by Karrington Anderson and Dominic Butchko to look back at what stood out at MACoCon and, more importantly, what comes next. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in…

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August 21, 2026

County News / Energy / Information Technology / News You Can Use / Summer Conference

Pennsylvania Data Center Order Puts Local Approval First

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has signed an executive order requiring data center developers to secure local approval and make binding commitments regarding energy, infrastructure, and community impacts before the Commonwealth reviews permit applications. The order requires legally binding commitments under Pennsylvania’s GRID standards, which address energy costs, environmental protections, workforce development, transparency, and community engagement. It also removes data centers from the Commonwealth's Fast Track permitting process and prohibits nondisclosure agreements for data center projects.…

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August 20, 2026

Energy / Planning and Zoning / Summer Conference

Digging in on Data Centers at #MACoCon

Maryland leaders examine the opportunities, infrastructure demands, and local impacts of growing data center development. Data centers are emerging as a major economic development opportunity for Maryland, but their growth also raises important questions around energy demand, infrastructure capacity, land use, water resources, and community impacts. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Senator Ben Brooks moderated a standing room only panel with state, local, industry, and environmental leaders on how Maryland can support this growing…

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August 19, 2026

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

Building the Bigger Picture at #MACoCon

County leaders examine how Maryland can plan, finance, and deliver infrastructure that supports growth, affordability, and resilient communities. Infrastructure touches nearly every county priority, from transportation, schools, and water systems to housing, economic development, and environmental resilience. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Senator Karen Lewis Young moderated a discussion with county and state infrastructure leaders on the challenges of planning, financing, and delivering the projects communities rely on, particularly as counties balance limited resources…

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August 19, 2026

Energy / Environment / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works

From Risk to Resilience at #MACoCon

Maryland leaders examine the planning, financing, and local tools counties can use to strengthen community resilience. Resilience planning increasingly requires counties to connect emergency management, infrastructure, climate preparedness, and long-term investment. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Delegate Michele Guyton moderated a discussion with state, county, and national leaders on how Maryland can move from resilience planning to implementation, including the financing, technical assistance, and coordination needed to advance projects that reduce risk and strengthen…

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August 19, 2026

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

The Electric Slide at #MACoCon

Maryland leaders examine how AI and data center growth is reshaping energy demand, infrastructure, affordability, and local economic development. The rapid growth of artificial intelligence and data centers is creating new economic opportunities while placing significant pressure on Maryland’s energy system, infrastructure, and local communities. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo moderated a discussion with energy, utility, and consumer policy leaders on how rising electric demand could affect energy prices, grid capacity,…

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August 19, 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

Corporate Partners / Energy / Environment / Feature

Schneider Electric Recognized as World’s Most Sustainable Company for Third Consecutive Year

Schneider Electric, a Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Corporate Partner, has announced it was named TIME Magazine and Statista's World's Most Sustainable Company for the third consecutive year. The annual ranking evaluates 5,000 of the world's largest and most influential companies based on sustainability performance. Schneider Electric said the recognition reflects its long-term commitment to integrating sustainability into its business strategy, governance, and operations. The announcement comes as the company launches Impact 2030, its newest…

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July 30, 2026