A Democrat in the Maryland General Assembly told Spotlight on Maryland the state should be open to using natural gas to meet its green energy goals.

Del. C.T. Wilson chairs the Maryland House Economic Matters Committee. He said in an interview Wednesday that he worked with House and Senate leaders throughout the summer to combat the state’s escalating energy production shortfalls.

The Charles County delegate said that, despite questions about energy generation, the state cannot dismiss its green energy objectives.

Dual fire power plants, sometimes called “combined cycle” plants, operate using two types of fuel. Natural gas is typically one of the two fuels used to power such plants.

“Maryland, itself, has never been closed to [natural gas],” Wilson said. “We obviously understand that it’s still legal. In years past, we tried to move away from that, but knowing where the battle lines are, we have, of course we are open to that, even for the short term.”

Public records show that six coal-fired power plants have closed since 2018, reducing the state’s energy production capacity by over 3,200 megawatts.

PJM reports on its website that fossil fuel power plant closures over the last six years have reduced Maryland’s energy generation by over 6,000 megawatts. The regional energy grid operator also noted that only 1,600 megawatts of new energy generation have been constructed to meet the state’s growing energy demands.

The rapid closure of fossil fuel power plants means the state has lost the power generation ability to electrify 4.8 million homes, according to PJM’s conversion formula. Data from the 2022 U.S. Census shows there are only 2.38 million residential households in the state.

Along with the closure of power plants, Maryland electric customers began receiving skyrocketing energy bills starting in January. FOX45 News first reported in August that a quartet of factors — including the closure of power plants, rising energy demands, aggressive green energy policies and an outdated power grid — would lead to an increase in costs of more than 11% per household beginning in 2025.

National energy costs and infrastructure debates boiled over into action by the new Trump administration on Monday. President Donald Trump declared a national energy emergency on his first day back in office. His executive order aimed to cool rapidly escalating consumer energy costs while clawing back much of former President Joe Biden’s clean energy initiatives.

Spotlight on Maryland asked PJM how Trump’s executive order may impact its planning and operations. A spokesperson said the organization is still reviewing the order.

Meanwhile, Wilson says his committee has been flooded with proposed bills concerning the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project, a controversial power line project slated to cut through the heart of Maryland. The project has drawn significant backlash from impacted communities over the possible use of eminent domain and environmental impacts.

Stop MPRP, a grassroots collective opposed to the project, has been vocal about its opposition to data center development since the organization’s inception.

“Save Maryland farms and families; stop the transmission lines,” Stop MPRP’s website reads. “MD residents will pay the social and finance costs of infrastructure to serve data centers.”

It is unclear who Wilson believes is advocating for data centers in the state. However, Gov. Wes Moore announced a $1 billion public-private partnership under his “Capital of Quantum” initiative last week.

“Recognizing Maryland’s unique assets and strategic advantages to grow the state’s quantum science and technology sector, Moore last month signed an executive order that identified quantum computing as an industry that the Moore-Miller Administration will prioritize through state investment and support,” the governor’s said in a news release.

Wilson said he believes good planning today may empower the state to become energy self-sufficient in 10 years.

“I believe the process that the Piedmont transmission lines were laid out may be problematic, but make no mistake, we need more energy,” Wilson said. “If you want a data center in your community, if you want that benefit, it doesn’t come out of thin air.”

“I always equate it to putting a large tick on a very small vein and a very dry vein, and we need to make sure we have enough energy for Marylanders’ everyday uses,” Wilson added.

The governor’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

Have a news tip? Contact reporter Gary Collins at gmcollins@sbgtv.com.