Maryland Governor Confronts PJM Over Data Center Energy Costs

Maryland Governor Wes Moore publicly challenged PJM Interconnection regarding rising energy costs and the financial burden placed on residents. During PJM's annual meeting in Baltimore's Harbor East, Governor Moore delivered a keynote address, asserting that data centers developing in Maryland must bear the full cost of their electricity infrastructure. Governor Moore accused PJM of mismanaging the region's power grid, leading to higher bills for millions of Marylanders while PJM earns record profits. He emphasized the need for a "better system" where data centers "pay their own way" to ensure fairness for other electricity customers. In response, PJM Executive Vice President Asim Haque acknowledged the struggles of Maryland residents, urging collective consideration within PJM. A PJM spokesman later stated that its interconnection process is functioning and that the company works with stakeholders to serve the growing economy without unfairly burdening customers, prioritizing system reliability. State Senator Katie Fry Hester and other advocates also rallied outside the meeting, calling for reforms, lower costs, and increased reliability.