Consumer advocates, labor unions, and elected officials urge the Public Service Commission (PSC) to protect ratepayers from reliability issues and rising energy costs by building more battery storage in the state. The PSC will decide on new storage projects on July 30.

Watch the recording of the press conference  HERE.

BALTIMORE, MD —  As Maryland families face high electricity bills and the threat of grid instability due to high temperatures, there is one technology that is quick to deploy, cheap, and the best way to modernize the grid: battery storage. Lawmakers, union leaders, and clean energy and ratepayer advocates held a “Storage Forward” press conference today ahead of a Public Service Commission (PSC) virtual hearing to approve or deny four new battery storage projects across Maryland amounting to 1840 MW of new transmission-connected storage. 

“I am proud of the work my colleagues and I have done to support battery storage in the Next Generation Energy Act and the Utility RELIEF Act. These projects are the quickest and most economical way to make our grid more modernized, resilient, and flexible,” said Del. Lorig Charkoudian (MD-District 20), Vice Chair of the House Economic Matters Committee.

“Battery storage systems strengthen Maryland’s electric grid while creating opportunities for the next generation of skilled electricians,” said Rico Albacarys, Political Director of IBEW Local 24. “By approving these projects, Maryland is investing in reliable infrastructure, skilled workers, and a stronger economy.” 

Right now, the PSC has the opportunity to move forward with these four first-round projects as part of a battery storage docket (PC9866) that was initiated by the Next Generation Energy Act. At the press conference, advocates for battery storage highlighted the union job opportunities, the technology’s flexibility, and utility bill relief that will materialize if the PSC approves all the projects in the docket. The group is also advocating for PSC to utilize other opportunities to approve new battery storage in the state, such as the dispatchable energy docket where Constellation has proposed 800 MW of battery storage.

“Maryland’s environmental advocates and labor unions are standing together because clean energy and good jobs go hand in hand,” said Brittany Baker, Maryland Director of CCAN Action Fund. “By backing battery storage, we can protect families from rising bills, create thousands of skilled union jobs, and build a grid that’s reliable, affordable, and ready for the future.”

“At a time when electricity affordability is a primary concern for Marylanders, energy storage reduces overall electricity system costs and can prevent rate increases by improving grid efficiency, maximizing low-cost renewable energy, and strengthening system reliability,” said Rebecca Rehr, Director of Climate Policy & Justice at the Maryland League of Conservation Voters. “Energy storage helped keep power and prices stable earlier this month when we experienced a heat wave over Independence Day weekend:  An American Clean Power report shows a 287% increase in wholesale energy prices in PJM during the heat wave compared to a 124% increase in the grid across the Midwest and the South (MISO), which has a higher clean energy mix.”

“With the federal administration threatening hard-won progress on clean energy and investing hundreds of millions to reinvigorate hazardous, polluting coal, Maryland must step up to defend our clean energy future,” said Casey Hunter, Climate Campaign Representative for the Maryland Sierra Club. “Battery energy storage is a crucial technology that will strengthen our grid, maximize the clean energy already being generated in Maryland, and help reduce our reliance on polluting fossil fuel plants. We urge the Public Service Commission to approve all four battery storage projects under consideration for a cleaner, more affordable energy future for all Marylanders.”

Watch the recording of the press conference  HERE.

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund is dedicated to driving change in public policies at the local, state, and national levels to address the climate crisis. Through voter education, lobbying, and participation in the electoral process, we seek to advance our country’s leadership in the global movement toward clean energy solutions — focusing our efforts primarily in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. We know that a vibrant democracy is central to our success so we work to defend democratic integrity wherever we can.