According to industry leaders demand for electricity is expected to exceed supply in Maryland as early as 2011. Competition among states for available, affordable energy is also on the increase. Forecasted rolling blackouts have become a major concern. Electricity is critical to business retention, business expansion, and business attraction. Electricity must be available, abundant, reliable and affordable. Yesterday, we attended the Maryland Economic Development Association Spring Conference that addressed the issues, options, and obstacles for electricity in Maryland’s future. 

The main issue is that generation and transmission capacity shortages loom in the next few years. On the upside, the current economic downturn has bought some relief time as people and businesses downsize or trim overhead and facility costs taking some of the burden off electricity loads. But the need to increase capacity is undeniable. 

So what are the options? Ross Tyler, Director of Clean Energy, MD Energy Administration, spoke of Maryland updating its Renewable Portfolio Standard targeting a 20% reduction of electricity by 2022. Reaching this goal is a challenge but a solution will necessitate economic development opportunities by investing in all technologies such as solar, geothermal, biomass, wind, ocean energy including wind, energy storage and distribution. Investments in these technologies will also create jobs as the State targets clean energy companies (energy generators, developers, component and chain manufactures). Interest has been generated and the following state projects are in the pipeline: possibly a delegation of Australian Clean Energy companies visiting MD in May; a small European Wind turbine producer looking for US manufacturing facility; a Canadian battery cell producer considering manufacturing in Maryland for US market; a Finnish ethanol producer to use MD as a gate way to introduce its technology to the US market; interest from Spanish wind turbine blade producer to use Maryland as its North American manufacturing site – 200 people in 2010 and additional 400 within 18 months.

Energy efficiency is gaining wide recognition as a resource that can reduce energy bills and wholesale prices, defer expensive capacity investments and cut carbon dioxide emissions. The recent stimulus package allocates $3.1 billion for the State Energy Program. The Maryland Energy Administration will receive $51 million of which about a third will be used for Clean Energy.  

While it takes time to realize the full economic potential through such technologies, projects for additional electricity capacity is underway. The Mid-Atlantic Power Pathway (MAPP) is a proposal for a major (500 kV) transmission line linking Virginia to New Jersey via the Delmarva Peninsula, with associated improvements to connecting facilities. The proposed route is ideally suited to meet the demands of the rapid load growth and chronic transmission congestion throughout the area traversed and beyond. Allegheny Energy has proposed construction of a new 500-kV line, the Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line (TrAIL), extending from Southwestern Pennsylvania to West Virginia to Northern Virginia. The Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) project includes approximately 244 miles of 765-kV extra-high voltage transmission from AEP's Amos substation near St. Albans, WV, to Allegheny's Bedington substation, northeast of Martinsburg, WV. Another 46 miles of twin-circuit 500-kV transmission will be constructed from Bedington to a new substation to be built near Kemptown, southeast of Frederick.  

More information about electricity in Maryland’s future is articulated in the presentations from the conference, which will be available on the MEDA website, www.medamd.com, early next week.

One thing is clear. We need to work together. Whether in your home, in your business, or around the State, we all need to work together to conserve energy and foster alternative, efficient technologies to reduce electricity consumption. Don’t take electricity for granted.