Read more about the article Maryland Ranks High on Transit Access, But More Work Remains
Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works
Maryland Ranks High on Transit Access, But More Work Remains

Maryland performs well in a new national transit access ranking, but the data highlights ongoing challenges around housing growth and transportation investment. A new national analysis from the Urban Institute highlights how limited access to reliable public transit remains across much of the country. While many homes are located near some form of bus or rail service, far fewer are close to frequent, dependable public transit that residents can realistically use for daily travel. For…

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June 9, 2026
Read more about the article Defunct Maryland Coal Plant to Receive Major Federal Investment
Energy / Environment / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works
Defunct Maryland Coal Plant to Receive Major Federal Investment

As part of a broader push by federal leaders to encourage coal use, a defunct western Maryland plant is slated for major federal investment.  As energy continues to be a central issue for policymakers at all levels of government, strategies for addressing affordability, reliability, and generation needs are diverging significantly between the state and federal levels. Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced a $700 million investment in coal infrastructure nationwide. The largest share, approximately…

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June 9, 2026
Read more about the article Data Center Growth Gets New Guardrails in Pennsylvania
Energy / Environment / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works
Data Center Growth Gets New Guardrails in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s new data center standards may offer Maryland a useful model for balancing multiple goals. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is adding new guardrails around data center development as states confront the fast-growing demand for AI infrastructure. The state's new standards aim to balance economic development with concerns over energy costs, grid reliability, water use, environmental impacts, workforce needs, and local community input. Developers seeking state support would be expected to show how their projects address…

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June 2, 2026
Read more about the article Pew: Preapproved Plans Can Cut Red Tape and Support More Housing
Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning
Pew: Preapproved Plans Can Cut Red Tape and Support More Housing

Pew report shows Reapproved Building Plans may be a boon for increasing housing production.  As communities look for ways to move housing projects faster and make the numbers work, a new report from The Pew Charitable Trusts points to one tool gaining traction: preapproved building plans. The idea is fairly simple. A local government makes already-reviewed designs available for common housing types such as accessory dwelling units, duplexes, cottages, townhomes, or small multifamily buildings. Builders…

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June 1, 2026
Read more about the article HUD Publishes Housing Development Best Practices
Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works
HUD Publishes Housing Development Best Practices

The Department of Housing and Community Development released best practices for state and local governments to further housing growth. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the State and Local Best Practices for Home Construction Report, a series of regulatory actions for state and local governments to increase efficiency and ease regulatory barriers to housing construction and affordability. “HUD is encouraging our state and local partners to take inventory of their regulations and…

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June 1, 2026
Read more about the article Maryland Rents Show Signs of Relief, But Housing Costs Remain High
Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning
Maryland Rents Show Signs of Relief, But Housing Costs Remain High

New rental data shows Maryland rents are easing, but high median costs and tight vacancy rates keep housing affordability front and center. For three straight legislative sessions, Maryland lawmakers have made affordable housing a top priority. New data from Apartment List suggests those efforts are unfolding against a slightly improving rental market, with rents in Maryland and its major metros beginning to ease on a year-over-year basis. Still, the broader picture remains mixed: rents are…

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May 27, 2026
Read more about the article The Briefing Room Ep 3: Where Our Power Comes From
County News / Economic Development / Energy / Environment / Feature / Planning and Zoning / Risk Management / Transportation and Public Works
The Briefing Room Ep 3: Where Our Power Comes From

In Episode 3 of The Briefing Room, Maryland’s energy picture comes into sharper focus. Host Dom Butchko is joined by Public Service Commission Chair Kumar Barve to unpack one of the biggest questions facing the state: where does our power actually come from?   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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May 26, 2026
Read more about the article Construction Materials Up Over 6% Since January
Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works
Construction Materials Up Over 6% Since January

A new report from the Association of Builders & Contractors shows prices have increased 6.2 percent from January to April.  Construction materials costs jumped sharply in April, adding another pressure point for builders, developers, and public infrastructure projects. According to Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of federal Producer Price Index data, overall construction input prices rose 1.7% from March to April and are now up 6.2% since January, with nonresidential construction inputs rising even faster…

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May 19, 2026
Read more about the article Deep Dive: Breaking Down the Utility RELIEF Act Part III
Energy / Environment / Planning and Zoning / Policy Deep Dive
Deep Dive: Breaking Down the Utility RELIEF Act Part III

In Parts I and II of our analysis of HB 1532, the Utility RELIEF Act of 2026, we examined new requirements related to county permitting of residential rooftop solar and study language concerning future state action on siting large-scale energy projects.  For Part III, the focus shifts from what the General Assembly passed to what may still need to be clarified. Over the past two years, lawmakers have enacted several significant energy measures, including the Next…

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May 13, 2026
Read more about the article Florida Puts New Guardrails Around Data Centers
Energy / Environment / Planning and Zoning
Florida Puts New Guardrails Around Data Centers

Following energy challenges nationally, Florida's SB484 places guardrails on data center development. Florida has enacted a new law aimed at making sure data center projects fully absorb the expense of high energy usage, rather than pushing increasing utility costs onto everyday ratepayers. The new law, SB484, requires Florida’s Public Service Commission to develop rules for large electric users, including data centers, so the cost of serving those facilities is not shifted to residential and small…

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May 11, 2026
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