In a recent development, PJM Interconnection, the major power grid operator responsible for overseeing electricity supplies across the mid-Atlantic, has reiterated its concerns about the impending shutdown of the Brandon Shores coal-fired power plant in Baltimore. According to PJM, this closure could jeopardize the region’s grid reliability and have severe consequences for consumers, including the entire city of Baltimore.
PJM Interconnection, which coordinates wholesale electricity movement in 13 states and the District of Columbia, serving 65 million consumers, has raised alarm bells about the lack of preparation for the terms of the settlement between the plant’s operator, Talen Energy, and the Sierra Club. The agreement stipulates the closure of Brandon Shores in June 2025. However, PJM asserts that the region is ill-equipped to handle the resulting energy gap before alternative power sources come online.
The letter addressed by PJM’s President and CEO, Manu Asthana, to the Sierra Club called for immediate action to resolve the issue. Asthana emphasized the potential consequences of failing to reach a resolution, including degraded grid reliability during peak hours for over 1 million Maryland consumers, including Baltimore residents, until the necessary transmission infrastructure is constructed.
PJM further underscored the need for amendments to the Talen Energy-Sierra Club agreement to allow the coal plant to continue providing power until transmission projects are completed. Currently, transmission upgrades are not expected to be finished in Maryland until 2028, three years after the planned closure of Brandon Shores.
In November, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) intervened and approved PJM’s emergency plan for transmission upgrades costing nearly $800 million. FERC Commissioner Mark Christie warned that without these upgrades, the shutdown could lead to a severe voltage collapse in Baltimore and surrounding areas, posing potentially catastrophic consequences.
While there has been a push to phase out coal power in Maryland, critics argue that the accelerated timeline for closing coal-fired power plants may compromise grid reliability. Christopher Summers, founder and president of the Maryland Public Policy Institute, expressed concerns about the risks to the state’s grid and the detrimental impact on Maryland families and businesses.
The decision to close Brandon Shores was part of Talen Energy’s transition to green energy and its broader environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. Although the company initially planned to convert Brandon Shores to rely on a less emitting fuel source, it later decided to completely shutter the plant, raising additional reliability concerns for the future.
The Sierra Club, the organization that reached the agreement with Talen Energy, has not provided a comment on the matter.
The potential shutdown of the Baltimore coal plant and the subsequent impacts on grid reliability highlight the ongoing challenges in transitioning to cleaner energy sources while ensuring a stable power supply. The situation calls for careful consideration of the timeline and necessary infrastructure upgrades to maintain a reliable and sustainable energy system for consumers.
