Nuclear touted as key to Md.'s energy demand, rising prices amid legislature's inaction

LUSBY, Md. (WBFF) — A senior executive from a Maryland-based energy conglomerate said they are optimistic about nuclear energy’s potential expansion but warned that multiple factors must be addressed to meet rapidly increasing regional and national energy demands.

Kathleen Barrón, the executive vice president and chief strategy and growth officer of Constellation Energy, granted an exclusive interview on Monday with Spotlight on Maryland.

The wide-ranging discussion, which took place in the administration building of the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Maryland’s sole atomic energy generation facility, centered on the past, present, and potential future of nuclear energy in Maryland and beyond.

This power plant here [at Calvert Cliffs] generates 40% of the energy that’s generated in the state of Maryland,” Barrón said. “It does so in a way that is reliable, predictable, and it does so in a way that is without emissions.”

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, nuclear power plants produce more reliable and carbon-free electricity than any known generation source. Data from the federal agency shows that nuclear power plants operate nearly three times more consistently and reliably than solar panels and wind turbines.

Federal data show that natural gas and coal power generation sites, which environmental advocates have dubbed “dirty” forms of energy production, have a reliability factor that is almost half that of nuclear facilities.

Considering PJM Interconnection’s forecast that Maryland's regional energy needs will increase by more than 40% by 2039, Spotlight on Maryland questioned Barrón on how Constellation and other energy providers could ensure electricity production meets this demand. PJM is the power grid operator for 13 states and Washington, D.C.

“It’s interesting with some of the data economy firms that have historically had policies internally where they committed to purchasing 100% of their power from wind and solar,” Barrón said. “They’ve all evolved in the last couple of years because they have realized that their machines run 24/7, around the clock, and nuclear plants run 24/7, around the clock.”

There really is a peanut butter and jelly relationship between these two types of technologies, particularly if you have a focus on doing your business without generating emissions,” Barrón added.

Several of the world’s largest information technology companies, including Microsoft, are turning to nuclear energy as a viable option to fuel their research in artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

ALSO READ | Behind the blast doors: A look inside Maryland's only nuclear power plant

Spotlight on Marylandvisited the defunct nuclear power plant site at Three Mile Island in Londonderry, Pa., in early February. Five months earlier, Constellation announced that it had signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft to launch the Crane Clean Energy Center and restart one nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, praised the newly announced partnership to restart parts of the Three Mile Island nuclear site.

Pennsylvania’s nuclear energy industry plays a critical role in providing safe, reliable, carbon-free electricity that helps reduce emissions and grow Pennsylvania’s economy,” Gov. Shapiro said at the time. “My administration will continue to work to cut energy costs and ensure the reliability of our energy grid so that Pennsylvanians can have access to affordable power made right here in Pennsylvania for years to come.”

Meanwhile, in Maryland, Democratic Gov. Wes Moore and state Sen. Benjamin Brooks, D-Baltimore County, proposed a series of bills to amend state law to include nuclear generation in the state’s clean energy portfolio. Both focused on this effort throughout the 90 days of the 2025 state assembly session. The legislative proposals sought to grant nuclear power plants renewable energy credits similar to those awarded to wind and solar facilities being integrated into the region's power grid.

All legislative efforts to encourage energy generation companies, such as Constellation, to invest in building nuclear facilities for domestic energy production stalled in the state legislature and did not advance to the governor’s desk before Monday’s adjournment.

Gov. Moore slammed state lawmakers on X in a statement released by his spokesperson, Carter Elliott, about the failed efforts regarding nuclear energy just minutes after the legislature adjourned on Tuesday morning.

“[We] introduced legislation centered on addressing the issues that Marylanders tell me they care about the most – from housing to small business growth to energy rates,” Gov. Moore wrote. “[The] general assembly failed to make nuclear energy a core part of the state’s clean energy strategy so we could add more capacity to Maryland’s energy portfolio.”

PJM has consistently told Spotlight on Maryland that one of the primary reasons for the near-record increases in residential electric bills is the rapid closure of unreplaced power plants in Maryland.

Spotlight on Maryland asked Barrón if nuclear power could significantly address the cost concerns of Maryland residents and businesses.

“It is absolutely true that if we can keep doing what we are doing here at Calvert Cliffs and across our fleet, we will be able to keep prices lower,” Barrón said. “There are many studies that show that there is an expensive way to decarbonize, and there is a less expensive way to decarbonize.”

“I think Maryland has benefited from having this plant here, and it absolutely has been the answer until today. We have kept the lights on for 50 years. We’ve done so without really anyone knowing what’s happening down here,” Barrón added.

Follow Gary Collins with Spotlight on Maryland on X. Do you have news tips on this story or others? Send news tips to gmcollins@sbgtv.com.

Spotlight on Maryland is a collaboration between FOX45 News, WJLA in Washington, D.C., and The Baltimore Sun.