Governor Moore Launches Program to Increase Energy Generation, Lower Electricity Costs
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ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today announced the launch of “Megawatts for Maryland,” a $200 million clean energy auction program to increase in-state energy generation over the next two years and help lower power costs for ratepayers. The program, developed and administered by the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), was established through the landmark Utility RELIEF Act, which Governor Moore signed into law earlier this year.
“We’re using every tool at our disposal to bring Marylanders relief as energy costs skyrocket in our region and across the country,” said Gov. Moore. “This program will tackle rising electricity demand with cleaner, cheaper, in-state energy generation that will drive down costs for the long-term.”
Energy demand in our region is rising faster than available supply to meet it, contributing to higher electricity bills. “Megawatts for Maryland” aims to add hundreds of megawatts of clean, affordable power to the grid, enough to power more than 150,000 Maryland homes per year.
“Lowering costs for Maryland families remains our top priority," said Senate President Bill Ferguson. "That’s why we passed Megawatts for Maryland last session — to bring more clean, renewable energy onto our grid, increase supply, and help lower utility bills. Marylanders deserve real relief from rising costs, and we will continue taking decisive action to deliver lasting affordability for families across our state.”
“Maryland families and businesses need reliable electricity at prices they can afford. That's why we made increasing our state's energy supply a central part of the Utility RELIEF Act,” said Maryland House of Delegates Speaker Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk. “This $100 million investment puts that commitment into action, using a competitive process to bring new solar generation online while making responsible use of public dollars. Building more energy capacity here at home is an important part of our long-term strategy to ease pressure on utility bills and create a more affordable energy future for Marylanders.”
“Renewable energy and energy storage projects are the quickest, cleanest, lowest cost option to develop local energy supply,” said Maryland Energy Administration Director Kelly Speakes-Backman. “We need more in-state power generation to meet energy demand and reduce costs. Megawatts for Maryland will support a more affordable, resilient, clean, and flexible grid for all Marylanders.”
The two-year program, drawing on up to $100 million a year from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund, will award grants to renewable energy generation and storage developers. Grants will help offset costs associated with development and construction of grid-scale renewable energy generation and energy storage projects. This new program will help fill investment gaps created when the Trump Administration canceled investment tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act.
The competitive auction program will consider eligible applications through a two-stage process:
- Stage 1: The applicant submits a preliminary application establishing eligibility to bid into stage 2.
- Stage 2: Eligible applicants submit a bid price with additional documentation.
The application deadline for Stage 1 is November 30, 2026. Only eligible stage 1 applicants may bid into Stage 2, which has a deadline of January 22, 2027.
The Moore-Miller administration has taken decisive action to help lower energy costs for everyday Marylanders and hold accountable those driving up energy costs. In September, Governor Moore issued an executive order on Responsible Data Center Development in Maryland, ensuring ratepayers are protected from energy price hikes caused by data centers. Over the past two years, the Moore-Miller administration has helped deliver hundreds of dollars in immediate relief to families struggling with utility costs across the state, including $200 million in direct rebates last year and $100 million in direct relief through the Utility RELIEF Act. Governor Moore also issued a December 2025 executive order to support energy affordability and address anticipated shortfalls in energy generation.
The Governor also remains a driving force behind the PJM Governors’ Collaborative. In May, the Governor delivered remarks directly to PJM executives at their annual meeting, calling on the organization to take more accountability for how their actions have driven increased rates. In April, Governor Moore joined a coalition of governors from across the PJM region calling for urgent action to protect families and businesses from rising energy costs driven by explosive data center growth. And earlier this year, Governor Moore secured a win from PJM that will save Marylanders billions on their energy bills after PJM announced it was extending the capacity market price cap through the end of the decade.
“Megawatts for Maryland” represents another promise kept by the Moore-Miller administration to support clean, affordable, reliable energy.
The Moore-Miller administration has made significant investments to advance the state’s renewable energy strategy. In August, the governor, with the Maryland Department of General Services (DGS), announced a long-term Power Purchase Agreement that is expected to save the state approximately $300 million over the next 20 years while significantly expanding the State's use of clean, Maryland-generated solar energy. The agreement doubled the amount of renewable energy currently purchased directly by the State and provided enough renewable electricity to power nearly 15 percent of the State's portfolio beginning in 2028.
The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) promotes clean, affordable, reliable energy and energy-related greenhouse gas emission reductions to benefit Marylanders in a just and equitable manner.
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