Counties Offer Local Perspective On Large-Load Energy Facility Integration

On March 12, Dominic Butchko, Director of Intergovernmental Relations for the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), submitted a letter to the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee regarding Senate Bill 992. The proposed legislation, titled "Public Utilities – Large Load Customers – Registration and Demand Response Program," aims to establish a framework for requiring large load customers, predominantly data centers, to provide specific information to the Public Service Commission (PSC) prior to connecting to Maryland's electric grid. While electric interconnection regulations are typically beyond local purview, MACo highlighted several critical points for policymakers. Counties stressed the necessity of early transparency concerning water usage, the demands on electric infrastructure, and broader planning implications as energy consumption from large facilities continues to rise. MACo urged the state to adopt a framework that facilitates informed decision-making, safeguards ratepayers, and adequately addresses local infrastructure capacity. SB 992 is seen as an initial step in Maryland's ongoing assessment of how to integrate large-load facilities into the state's energy and infrastructure landscape. Counties are committed to ensuring that any statewide framework is practical, maintains affordability for constituents, and ensures sustainable local capacity.