County briefed on state energy bills and data center proposals; staff flag transmission, costs and limited state restrictions

Garrett Fitzgerald of the Department of Environmental Protection and Brian Howard, the department's new state energy and climate policy manager, briefed the council on energy issues being debated in the Maryland General Assembly (SEG 531–541, 923–940). They identified multiple drivers of increasing utility bills — transmission costs, demand from new data centers, utility infrastructure spending, and PJM interconnection delays — and said these combine to produce upward pressure on residential and commercial bills (SEG 651–661).

Staff described a suite of more than 80 energy‑related bills this session and highlighted a subset that directly affects Montgomery County, including the county's Community Choice Energy pilot (first hearing noted), bills that could allow utilities to build and rate‑base new power plants (which staff warned could reduce consumer protections), and several bills addressing renewable portfolio standard compliance and use of alternative compliance payments (SEG 713–749).

Regarding data centers, staff said there are more than 10 bills addressing data‑center planning, taxation and reporting; most appear unlikely to impose strict new statewide requirements on local planning this session, though several proposals could change taxation authority or reporting and planning expectations. Staff asked the council whether it wanted the county to take positions on specific bills, noting the state will release a data‑center study later in the year that could affect 2027 lawmaking (SEG 770–916).

Councilors requested lists of specific bill numbers and asked staff to return with more details if the council wishes to take positions. Staff said they will coordinate with planning and provide bill lists and specific recommendations as needed.