Nine Days Left
- jfeasley9
- Mar 31
- 3 min read
We started our 90-day legislative session with snow on the ground. Now, with only nine days left, when I walk into the State House I am greeted by cherry blossoms—and, of course, advocates of all stripes; pictured here I’m talking with Jamie DeMarco who works on climate issues on behalf of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN).
State Budget
In a very challenging year, we state legislators are very close to passing a budget that reflects our values and protects Marylanders. Each year we are required to pass a balanced budget. We began the session knowing we faced a $3 billion budget deficit. Our economic outlook darkened once the Trump administration—enabled by congressional Republicans—began to make deep cuts to federal spending and decimated the federal workforce, which hit our state especially hard.
This week the Maryland House of Delegates passed its version of the budget and the Senate is expected to pass its version within the next day or two. Legislators from both chambers have been negotiating on many of the key issues and we believe a final piece of legislation will emerge soon.
In broad terms, the budget will be balanced through targeted cuts, new revenue streams, and a variety of tax reforms. I will provide more details once the final bill has passed.
Energy Legislation
The House and Senate Leadership have jointly proposed a package of three bills to address energy: 1) generation, 2) siting, and 3) planning. These bills have been heavily amended and are making their way through the legislative process in these crucial final days of session.
Here are just some of the pages and pages of amendments to the leadership’s energy package being considered by the Economic Matters Committee, on which I serve.
While it remains to be seen exactly what is included in the final package, I’m pleased to share that the battery storage components from my Abundant Affordable Clean Energy (AACE) Act have been amended into the Leadership bills.
Battery storage will help us ensure sufficient clean energy to meet growing demand needs. My legislation will help Maryland rapidly deploy battery storage—both on a large scale for the transmission grid and on a smaller scale to be distributed through local grids.
To use battery storage is a “no regrets” path forward because it can immediately address our peak load challenges when demand is high by using whatever energy is currently being produced on the grid (which right now is mostly natural gas with some renewables). Battery storage, for example, has been crucial in Texas and California to address peak demand during extreme weather events. It then paves the way to smooth out the balance of energy supplies as we get more and more renewables on the grid over the next decade.
Maryland has so far not deployed almost any battery storage because proposed projects have been stuck—for years—waiting for approval from PJM, our regional transmission organization. Importantly, significant amounts of battery storage projects are finally about to exit the PJM queue. My legislation creates the procurement path forward for battery storage’s rapid deployment.
Community Potluck in Support of Federal Workers
Many people in our community have been negatively impacted by the recent executive orders affecting federal workers and contractors. Takoma Park Presbyterians United for Justice, Takoma Park Mobilization, and Cub Scout Pack 33 are hosting a Community Potluck for support and solidarity with these workers. The hope is to provide an opportunity to come together, meet neighbors, and support and encourage each other during these difficult times. I will be there to provide information about unemployment insurance and access to other resources. I hope to see you there.
The potluck—which is open to everyone—will be held at Takoma Park Presbyterian Church, 310 Tulip Ave., Takoma Park, on Sunday, March 30, from 5-8 pm.
To sign up to bring a dish or if you have questions, please contact Liz Hoge at communitypotlucktp@gmail.com.
I recently joined with members of AFSCME and AFGE to speak out in support of civil servants.
Stronger Together!
Change happens more rapidly when you stop acting as an individual and start working as part of a larger group of like-minded people. Here are just some of the many groups listing ways you can do exactly that:
• Indivisible (national)
Need help with a state issue?Please contact my office at lorig.charkoudian@house.state.md.us or leave us a message at (410)-841-3423.
Onward,
Lorig
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