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By Zamone Perez
March 24, 2025
As President Donald Trump rolls back clean energy initiatives at the federal level, states like Maryland are pushing ahead with their own energy transitions.
Legislation moving through the Maryland General Assembly includes a bill to codify Gov. Wes Moore’s campaign pledge, to transition the state to 100% clean energy by 2035. Another bill, known as the Abundant Affordable Clean Energy Act, would expand battery storage to the regional grid.
Rebecca Rehr, director of climate policy and justice for the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, said clean energy investments can also help the economy and combat rising energy costs.
“We can create a model of economic growth and clean energy adoption that other states can follow,” Rehr contended. “We can really lead here, especially in the face of federal rollbacks. You can have economic growth and a growth of the clean energy industry here in Maryland at the same time. These go hand in glove.”
Energy costs for many Maryland households have recently gone up 50% for gas and 30% for electricity.
Clean energy advocates in the state are also playing defense. Top Democratic leaders in the General Assembly introduced the Next Generation Energy Act, to build new natural gas plants. Rehr argued it would impede progress the state has made in the clean energy transition.
“If this bill moves forward as it was introduced, it not only seeks to build new gas in Maryland,” Rehr pointed out. “It seeks to fast-track new gas in Maryland, which could have consequences and again sort of flies in the face of any environmental justice provisions in state law.”
The state also has goals to produce 8.5 gigawatts of wind power by 2031.
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