Wicomico County Energy Forum on Affordability

The Wicomico County Energy Forum on Affordability, held on September 18, 2026, convened industry experts, state and local elected officials, and community members to discuss the rising costs of energy and potential solutions to improve affordability and reliability for Maryland residents and businesses. Key procurement-related discussions included the impact of state regulations such as the Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) and natural gas connection mandates on energy costs, as well as the challenges of permitting and infrastructure upgrades necessary to support new energy generation projects. Panelists emphasized the need for an "all of the above" energy approach, including natural gas, solar, wind, battery storage, and small modular nuclear plants, while highlighting the importance of reforming permitting processes to accelerate project development. The forum also addressed the financial burdens of renewable energy mandates and surcharges on ratepayers, with some legislators advocating for pausing the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to provide immediate relief. Additionally, the discussion covered the economic and environmental concerns related to offshore wind projects, particularly from Ocean City representatives. The meeting concluded with presentations on innovative local projects, such as Wicomico County's landfill methane-to-natural gas initiative, and the announcement of a new nonprofit organization focused on energy affordability and reliability solutions for the Delmarva region. No specific contract awards or RFPs were mentioned, but policy and regulatory considerations discussed could influence future procurement and energy infrastructure investments in Maryland.