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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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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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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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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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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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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PJM Projects Heat Wave to Place Record Stress on Grid

PJM warns that heat wave will likely place historic stress on grid infrastructure.   A major heat wave across the eastern United States is expected to place significant strain on the PJM Interconnection, the regional electric grid that serves Maryland and 12 other states. PJM has issued a hot weather alert as temperatures rise and electricity use increases, particularly from air conditioning. Demand could approach or exceed historic levels, raising concerns about grid reliability, short-term…

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Pennsylvania Moves to Repeal Data Center Incentives

Citing concerns from local communities and shifting economic, lawmakers in Harrisburg move to end data center incentives.  As data center controversy and opposition grows nationally, lawmakers in Pennsylvania's politically divided General Assembly vote overwhelmingly to repeal incentive programs meant to engage their growth.  Both the Democratically controlled House and the Republican controlled Senate recently advanced legislation which would end the state’s Computer Data Center Equipment Incentive Program. The program previously provided hundreds of millions worth…

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FT: Exelon CEO Warns of Blackouts as Energy Demand Grows

As energy demand outpaces new generation, utility leaders warn of dire consequences within the coming years.  Exelon Chief Executive Officer Calvin Butler recently warned in an interview with the Financial Times that Americans may face blackouts as soon as 2027. Energy demand is dramatically outpacing the capacity of existing grid infrastructure and our the ability to get new forms of generations online. One of the biggest contributors to the added strain has been the development…

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Data Centers in Maryland: Opportunity, Pressure, and Policy 

Data centers are a growing and complex issues, policymakers need to make decisions about balancing energy, growth, and environmental concerns.  Regulating data centers presents a difficult balancing act for counties. While these facilities can bring significant investment and economic development opportunities, they also raise complex local concerns around energy demand, infrastructure capacity, environmental impacts, and community compatibility. Counties are often on the front lines of managing these impacts, but many of the key decisions are…

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