A coal-fired power plant shutdown in Maryland is raising concerns about electricity supplies and the reliability of the region’s grid. PJM Interconnection, a power grid operator serving millions of Americans across the mid-Atlantic, has warned that the planned closure of the Brandon Shores coal power plant outside of Baltimore will have severe consequences. The operator coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in 13 states and the District of Columbia, serving 65 million consumers.
The decision to close the plant in June 2025 is part of an agreement between the plant’s operator, Talen Energy, and the Sierra Club, a left-wing environmental group. However, PJM Interconnection has analyzed the impact of the closure and found that it will cause a voltage drop and thermal violations across seven PJM zones, posing widespread reliability risks in Baltimore and surrounding areas.
The closure of Brandon Shores, which has a capacity of 1,295 megawatts, enough to power over a million homes, would require the regional grid operator to divert electricity generated elsewhere. However, transmission upgrades in Maryland are not expected to be completed until 2028, three years after the planned closure. This tight timeframe has prompted PJM to request that the plant remains in operation until the upgrades are finished, but Talen Energy’s agreement with the Sierra Club prevents such an agreement from moving forward.
PJM and Talen Energy are currently engaged in negotiations with the Sierra Club and Maryland state officials to find a solution. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has also intervened and approved PJM’s emergency plan for transmission upgrades worth nearly $800 million to mitigate the impact of the closure.
The closure of Brandon Shores is seen as a consequence of Maryland’s aggressive clean energy goals and its transition to green energy sources. The state enacted the Climate Solutions Now Act last year, which aims to achieve a state-level “net zero” greenhouse emissions mandate by 2045. Maryland Governor Wes Moore has called for the state’s power grid to be entirely powered by green energy by 2035.
However, critics argue that the closure of efficient and low-cost energy-producing plants like Brandon Shores will lead to more expensive electricity bills for Maryland families. Republican Representative Andy Harris expressed concern over the short-sighted energy policy, claiming that it would surrender America’s energy advantage to China and Russia.
Governor Moore’s administration maintains that the transition to clean energy will bring economic investment and job creation to Maryland. They highlight partnerships with companies like Ørsted, which will support the creation of thousands of jobs and power nearly 300,000 homes with renewable energy through offshore wind projects. The governor aims to balance clean energy goals with grid reliability and protecting ratepayers.
In conclusion, the planned closure of the Brandon Shores coal power plant in Maryland raises concerns about electricity supplies and grid reliability. PJM Interconnection warns that the closure could lead to voltage drop and thermal violations, posing widespread reliability risks. Negotiations are underway to find a solution, but the closure raises questions about the state’s clean energy goals and potential impacts on electricity costs for consumers.
