Construction and Expansion of Transmission Lines and Task Force to Develop a Realistic Electricity Plan for Maryland
SB953 would create a temporary Task Force to Develop a Realistic Electricity Plan for Maryland and direct it to study the State’s electricity needs under several future scenarios. The task force would include legislators, state energy and environmental officials, utility and grid representatives, agricultural and environmental stakeholders, and ratepayer representatives. Its work would focus on projected electricity demand, the share of electricity imported from outside Maryland, capacity-market costs passed on to ratepayers, and policy options to keep the State’s electricity supply reliable through 2040.
The task force would be required to evaluate policy options such as expanding nuclear generation, expanding renewable energy, increasing energy storage, and upgrading transmission systems. It would also make recommendations for legislation aimed at ensuring Maryland purchases no more than 25% of its electricity from out-of-state sources in 2030, 2035, and 2040. The task force must report its findings and recommendations by December 31, 2025.
The bill would temporarily alter Maryland energy policy by creating a new advisory task force and by imposing a moratorium on the Public Service Commission’s approval of new or expanded transmission lines in the State from July 1, 2025 through May 1, 2026. It does not itself change long-term utility regulation or energy procurement rules, but it would pause transmission approvals while the task force studies future electricity planning and potential legislative changes. The bill would affect the Public Service Commission, Maryland Energy Administration, utilities, grid operators, and ratepayers, and it would likely influence future legislation on generation mix, transmission infrastructure, and electricity imports.
Based on the bill’s structure and sponsors, the measure appears to reflect concern about Maryland’s long-term electricity reliability, affordability, and dependence on imported power. The inclusion of a broad set of stakeholders suggests an effort to build a comprehensive planning process rather than a narrow policy change. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of formal support or opposition in the available record.
The main point of contention is likely the transmission-line moratorium, which could be viewed by utilities, grid planners, and some policymakers as a constraint on needed infrastructure upgrades, while supporters may see it as a necessary pause to reassess system planning. Another likely area of disagreement is the bill’s goal of limiting out-of-state electricity purchases to no more than 25%, which may raise concerns about feasibility, cost, and reliability. The bill also signals debate over the role of nuclear power, renewable energy, storage, and transmission expansion in meeting Maryland’s future electricity needs, with different stakeholders likely favoring different resource strategies.