Copyright Baltimore Sun
At his Sept. 22 press conference, Gov. Wes Moore announced yet another rebate scheme to dull the pain of soaring energy bills. However, Maryland families don’t need a temporary coupon for their electricity; they need a real plan to lower prices for good. These rebates are nothing more than a short-term political gimmick meant to distract from the urgent and escalating energy crisis that Moore and Annapolis Democrats have forced onto every Maryland ratepayer. The numbers tell the story: Every Maryland household is facing skyrocketing utility bills with no relief in sight. This crisis is unsustainable for hardworking families, small businesses and individuals across our state. Seniors on fixed incomes, many relying on life-saving medical devices, are being forced into impossible and dangerous choices. Hospitals that must operate around the clock are passing their rising energy costs on to all of us. Small businesses are struggling to survive, unable to plan for the future due to the weight of unpredictable and crushing utility expenses. The latest PJM capacity auction has produced eye-popping, exponential cost increases, all in the name of “incentivizing” more energy production for Marylanders. But make no mistake: Every ratepayer in this state will feel the impact the next time demand is high for energy. These soaring costs are the direct result of lawmakers who have systematically and deliberately driven out reliable energy sources that didn’t fit their political agenda. Maryland lacks a serious plan to develop new, reliable sources of power. If we fail to act, our state will become less competitive, driving employers and good-paying jobs to regions with lower, more stable energy costs. Offshore wind, the governor’s preferred solution, simply can’t fill the gap. It takes decades to permit and build, relies entirely on unpredictable weather and comes with staggering costs. That’s why it depends on massive taxpayer subsidies; in fact, renewable energy companies receive 19 times more subsidies per unit of energy than traditional power producers. Even worse, these giant offshore turbines pose a threat to marine life in the Atlantic, including whales, fish populations and migratory birds that rely on coastal flyways. They also put Ocean City’s tourism industry at risk, an economy built on open beaches and unobstructed views. The environmental cost of these turbines is too high to ignore. In the best-case scenario, offshore wind can never deliver the steady, 24/7 power our grid and families depend on. It’s time for real energy solutions, not expensive, unreliable experiments. There is a better way: small modular reactors (SMRs). This next-generation nuclear technology is compact, scalable and remarkably safe. About the size of a shipping container, an SMR can operate 24/7, producing clean, carbon-free electricity without the need for massive battery farms or costly backup systems. Unlike wind and solar, SMRs don’t fail when the weather changes, and unlike coal or gas, they emit zero carbon into the air. Maryland should lead the way in this technology bridge between affordability, reliability and sustainability, because our future depends on all three. The promise of SMRs is transformative. We already have sites for SMRs. Retired coal and gas plants already connected to the grid and zoned for industrial use are ideal for SMR deployment. Instead of letting these assets go to waste, Maryland can repurpose them, speeding up permitting, cutting construction costs and creating a new wave of good-paying, long-term jobs in engineering, plant operations, skilled trades and advanced manufacturing. This is how Maryland can build a cleaner, stronger and more secure energy future — one that truly powers opportunities for every family and community. This approach would also allow Maryland to keep these existing plants operational longer on their current energy sources, ensuring stability and reliability, while we work to transform them into state-of-the-art SMR facilities. It’s a smart, practical path that keeps the lights on today while building the clean, reliable energy system of tomorrow. Energy dominance is more than an economic issue. It’s a matter of national security. Maryland is home to key military installations, defense contractors and vital digital infrastructure. We cannot afford blackouts or price spikes. While China pours billions into advanced nuclear technology, we’re falling behind. Critics call nuclear energy “too expensive,” but SMRs are a generational investment that delivers steady, carbon-free power, stabilizes rates and frees us from volatile energy markets. Compared to the endless subsidies for wind projects that may never yield a return, nuclear is the smarter, more affordable path. Maryland stands at a crossroads. Governor Moore can continue to offer short-term rebates while prices rise and reliability crumbles, or we can lead with real solutions. If we genuinely want clean, affordable and dependable energy, it’s time to stop chasing political fantasies and start investing in what can work: small modular reactors. Ryan Nawrocki and Brian Chisholm are Republicans in the Maryland House of Delegates and members of the Maryland Freedom Caucus.
