![](https://www.citybiz.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/power.jpg)
The looming energy policy debate in the Maryland General Assembly might best be described as everything, everywhere, all at once.
Until recently the province of a few science nerds and policy wonks, the issue is suddenly getting a whole lot of attention in the State House. Lawmakers have arrived at a “holy s***” moment, and most believe they will have to act this year with urgency and clarity to address potential energy crises, something they are often reluctant to do.
And still, some legislators will privately confess that they don’t fully understand the terrain or the nomenclature — or the challenges at hand.
What they do know is that electricity prices are spiking for consumers while energy supplies are dwindling, at a time when Maryland is trying to foster a business environment that attracts more data centers, which are notorious power hogs. At the same time, the state is lagging when it comes to meeting its aggressive climate mandates and clean energy goals.
The public doesn’t seem to know who to blame for their higher electric bills. And environmental leaders are girding for possible rollbacks in climate protections and concessions to the fossil fuels industry to increase energy supply in the state.
“I think we are at a really significant inflection point on energy,” said Del. Lorig Charkoudian (D-Montgomery), one of the recognized legislative nerds in Annapolis on energy and utility policy.
In the opening days of this legislative session, lawmakers on energy and environmental committees received briefings on the regional electric grid, the challenges the state is facing to meet its clean energy goals, and a wonky concept known as co-location, which is relevant to the debate over how and where data centers get their electricity.