On June 23, the Caucus delivered a formal letter to DOE Secretary Chris Wright and President Donald J. Trump urging federal intervention under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act and the April 8 Executive Order on Energy Security. The letter outlines a series of concrete steps DOE can take to prevent Maryland’s energy crisis from escalating—including emergency dispatch of the Brandon Shores and Calvert Cliffs plants and fast-tracked permitting for natural gas conversions.

“We’re facing a real crisis in Maryland,” said Delegate Mark Fisher, a member of the Maryland Freedom Caucus.
“The Maryland Freedom Caucus is offering solutions that lower electricity prices and avert brownouts and blackouts. Governor Moore’s extremist policies are wrecking the economy.”

Brandon Shores, one of the nation’s cleanest coal plants following an $875 million upgrade in 2019, is slated to retire under a settlement with the Sierra Club. Without it and the adjacent Wagner plant, Maryland is projected to import up to 80% of its electricity by 2028—leaving the state dangerously exposed to regional outages and multi-billion dollar transmission projects that won’t come online for years.

“We’re not asking for subsidies. We’re asking for common sense,” said Delegate Brian Chisholm.
“Keeping our most efficient plants online during peak demand is the fastest and most cost-effective way to protect families and businesses from rolling blackouts and financial ruin.”

The Freedom Caucus points to recent federal interventions in Michigan and Pennsylvania, where DOE used emergency authority to keep essential plants running despite scheduled shutdowns. With a Maximum Generation Emergency Alert in effect from June 22–25, the group warns that Maryland could be next—and that inaction is not an option.

📄 Read our full letter to Secretary Wright and President Trump:

 

 

Authority: Maryland Freedom Caucus Slate, James Appel, Treasurer