Maryland has established some of the most aggressive and ambitious climate goals of any state in the US. Under its 2022 Climate Solutions Now Act, it aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60% below 2006 levels by 2031 and reach net-zero by 2045.
In addition to these ambitions, policymakers must now contend with spiking electricity demand and some of the country’s highest energy prices. Ratepayers have seen increases at an average annual rate of 2.4% between 2019 and 2024, two-and-a-half times the average national rate of 0.9% after adjusting for inflation. This dramatically complicates the prospect of quickly achieving net-zero while keeping electricity reliable and affordable for Marylanders.
