Impending Coal Plant Shutdown Threatens Electricity Supply in the Mid-Atlantic

In a recent development, PJM Interconnection, the power grid operator serving millions of Americans across the mid-Atlantic region, issued a warning about a planned shutdown of the Brandon Shores coal-fired power plant. The imminent closure, scheduled for June 2025, is anticipated to severely impact electricity supplies before alternative power sources come online, posing a significant threat to grid reliability.

The Brandon Shores plant, located outside of Baltimore and operated by Texas-based Talen Energy, has a capacity of 1,295 megawatts, enough to power over a million homes. PJM Interconnection, responsible for coordinating wholesale electricity movement in 13 states and the District of Columbia, serving 65 million consumers, expressed concerns that the shutdown could disrupt the balance of the region’s grid.

The decision to close the coal plant was part of Talen Energy’s agreement with the Sierra Club, a left-wing environmental group, to shutter three major coal power plants, including Brandon Shores. The move aligns with Talen Energy’s commitment to transitioning to green energy and aligning with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.

Christopher Summers, founder and president of the Maryland Public Policy Institute, voiced apprehension about the accelerated timeline for exiting coal-fired power plants, emphasizing potential reliability concerns for the state’s grid. Summers argued that the premature closure could jeopardize the well-being and livelihoods of Maryland families and businesses that rely on dependable power.

PJM Interconnection confirmed that the closure of Brandon Shores would impact not only Baltimore but also grids in northern Virginia, the District of Columbia, Delaware, and southeastern Pennsylvania. The regional grid operator highlighted that transmission upgrades in Maryland, crucial for diverting electricity from other sources, are not expected to be completed until 2028, three years after the planned shutdown.

Jeff Shields, a spokesperson for PJM Interconnection, stated, “There is an urgent need to upgrade the transmission system in order to maintain reliability and the flow of power to the 65 million people we serve.” PJM has requested that Brandon Shores remains operational through 2028 under a Reliability Must-Run Agreement, but Talen Energy’s agreement with the Sierra Club complicates such an arrangement.

Talen Energy initially indicated plans to convert Brandon Shores to rely on a less emitting fuel source but eventually opted for a complete closure. Negotiations between PJM, Talen Energy, the Sierra Club, and Maryland state officials are underway to find a solution to the reliability issue.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recently approved PJM’s emergency plan for nearly $800 million in transmission upgrades to mitigate the potential consequences of the Brandon Shores closure. FERC Commissioner Mark Christie emphasized the severe risks of voltage collapse in the affected zones, describing the scenario as potentially catastrophic.

As discussions continue, the state of Maryland remains committed to its aggressive clean energy goals. Governor Wes Moore aims for the state’s power grid to be entirely powered by green energy by 2035, aligning with Maryland’s Climate Solutions Now Act enacted last year.

While Maryland pursues a cleaner energy future, the impending closure of the Brandon Shores coal plant highlights the delicate balance between environmental goals and maintaining a reliable power supply for the region’s residents and businesses.