Released November 06, 2025 | SUGAR LAND
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Written by Eric Funderburk for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land Texas)
In the face of rising power demand in Maryland, Constellation Energy has provided several options for battery storage, gas-fired power and nuclear power that could provide up to 5,800 MW of potential generation increases in the state.
Constellation is one among many power providers in Maryland's deregulated power market, and the company, in addition to windfarms and peaking stations, has only two main facilities providing baseload power in the state. However, those plants are quite important. Its Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant in Lusby provides 40% of the state's power and 80% of its clean energy, according to World Nuclear News.
While the two reactors at Calvert Cliffs provide 1,790 MW of power, Constellation's other baseload power facility in the state comes from the Conowingo Hydroelectric Generating Station, a 572-MW plant on the Lower Susquehanna River in the north of the state. While the nuclear plant is Maryland biggest source for "clean energy," the Conowingo facility is its largest renewable power plant. Having operated for more than 90 years (although initially at much lower capacity), in October Constellation finalized negotiations with the state to allow the facility to operate for another 50 years.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Plant Database can learn more by viewing the plant profiles of Calvert Cliffs and Conowingo.
While none of Constellation's proposals affect the hydropower plant, the company has a list of ideas in regard to Calvert Cliffs.
However, it's set to change that. Among Constellation's proposals to Maryland is the construction of up to 800 MW of BESS capacity that can be deployed in times of high demand. The proposal comes from a September 30 solicitation from the state, calling for applicants to submit proposals for dispatchable and large-capacity energy resources that would be subject to fast-track permitting.
Constellation planned to close the oil-fired units of the Eddystone Generating Station near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the end of the May but was ordered by the U.S. Department of Energy to keep them running. That directive has been extended until late November this year, but could be furthered even more. The agency cited severe power shortages on the PJM Interconnection as the reason for the order--the grid that also encompasses Maryland in its entirety. (Click here to see the Eddystone plant profile.)
Constellation appears to have taken the opposite direction in regard to its Maryland peaking plants, with the company's press release regarding its proposals stating that, "Constellation's proposed options also include the potential for extending the operational usefulness of over 350 megawatts of existing Maryland power plants that are called upon during times of peak energy usage." That would come primarily from the company's Perryman Generating Station in Aberdeen (404 MW, consisting of one gas-fired unit, four oil-fired), and the Philadelphia Road station, with four oil-fired units capable of providing 61 MW.
Regardless, a Constellation gas-turbine deployment in Maryland could be performed in a reasonable amount of time, as the company already owns the turbines. Maryland Matter quoted Mason Emnet, senior vice president for public policy, as saying, "The generally held belief is: It'll take you about five years to get through the ordering process and have a new turbine delivered. We already have the turbines. We are able to move as quickly as the permitting and selection and surrounding construction process allows."
Key Takeaways
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Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
Summary
In the face of rising power demand in Maryland, Constellation Energy has provided several options for battery storage, gas-fired power and nuclear power that could provide up to 5,800 MW of potential generation increases in the state.
A Range of Options to Meet Power Demand
As Maryland, like other U.S. states, faces an upcoming crunch on its power sector due to high demand, Constellation Energy (Baltimore, Maryland), owner of the state's largest generating facility, has proposed a range of projects to state regulators to bring up to 5,800 megawatts (MW) of additional power to the state. Much of Maryland's increased power demand will come from data centers, for which Governor Wes Moore (D) opened the door last year with legislation easing permitting and backup power requirements for the power-hungry facilities.Constellation is one among many power providers in Maryland's deregulated power market, and the company, in addition to windfarms and peaking stations, has only two main facilities providing baseload power in the state. However, those plants are quite important. Its Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant in Lusby provides 40% of the state's power and 80% of its clean energy, according to World Nuclear News.
While the two reactors at Calvert Cliffs provide 1,790 MW of power, Constellation's other baseload power facility in the state comes from the Conowingo Hydroelectric Generating Station, a 572-MW plant on the Lower Susquehanna River in the north of the state. While the nuclear plant is Maryland biggest source for "clean energy," the Conowingo facility is its largest renewable power plant. Having operated for more than 90 years (although initially at much lower capacity), in October Constellation finalized negotiations with the state to allow the facility to operate for another 50 years.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Plant Database can learn more by viewing the plant profiles of Calvert Cliffs and Conowingo.
While none of Constellation's proposals affect the hydropower plant, the company has a list of ideas in regard to Calvert Cliffs.
Constellation's Nuclear Proposals
- Life extension: One of the prime items on Constellation's list for Calvert Cliffs is to allow the plant's two reactors to continue operating beyond their current out-of-service dates. Relicensing the plant by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) would extend the reactor's lives for an additional 20 years, into 2054 and 2056.
- Power uprate: With new equipment and technology, Constellation says it can boost Calvert Cliffs output by about 10%, or 190 MW, noting that this amounts to more than all of the state's wind and solar generation.
- Additional reactors: Constellation's proposal of adding reactors to Calvert Cliffs represents a long-term vision that would require significant time, effort and cost. The company says it is exploring the option of adding 2,000 MW of additional generation to the Calvert Cliffs facility.
While Constellation doesn't delve into the specifics of its plans, the NRC has not given the green light for a new nuclear plant in the U.S. since 2012, when it signed off on Southern Company's (Atlanta, Georgia) Plant Vogtle in Georgia, construction of which went considerably overtime and overbudget. However, U.S. President Donald Trump has issued orders easing the regulatory process for constructing new reactors in the U.S., which could be a boon to Constellation.
Subscribers can learn more by viewing the Vogtle plant profile.
Battery Storage Ideas
Battery storage not only represents the most rapidly growing U.S. power source to compensate for increased power demand in times of high usage, but also an entirely new sector for Constellation. After entirely divesting from coal-fired power in 2012, the company's portfolio now features power generation from nuclear, natural gas, solar, wind and fuel oil, but it has no battery energy storage systems (BESS).However, it's set to change that. Among Constellation's proposals to Maryland is the construction of up to 800 MW of BESS capacity that can be deployed in times of high demand. The proposal comes from a September 30 solicitation from the state, calling for applicants to submit proposals for dispatchable and large-capacity energy resources that would be subject to fast-track permitting.
Peaking Plants
As somewhat of an aside, Constellation does operate peaking plants in Maryland that can provide power in times of peak demand--but not battery plants. For the most part, Constellation's existing peaking units are oil-fired, which is increasingly frowned upon for its high emissions profile, but with Maryland's thirst for power, don't expect these units to close or be replaced anytime soon.Constellation planned to close the oil-fired units of the Eddystone Generating Station near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the end of the May but was ordered by the U.S. Department of Energy to keep them running. That directive has been extended until late November this year, but could be furthered even more. The agency cited severe power shortages on the PJM Interconnection as the reason for the order--the grid that also encompasses Maryland in its entirety. (Click here to see the Eddystone plant profile.)
Constellation appears to have taken the opposite direction in regard to its Maryland peaking plants, with the company's press release regarding its proposals stating that, "Constellation's proposed options also include the potential for extending the operational usefulness of over 350 megawatts of existing Maryland power plants that are called upon during times of peak energy usage." That would come primarily from the company's Perryman Generating Station in Aberdeen (404 MW, consisting of one gas-fired unit, four oil-fired), and the Philadelphia Road station, with four oil-fired units capable of providing 61 MW.
Gas-fired power
Constellation also has proposed 700 MW of natural gas-fired power in Maryland. There is some discrepancy in its proposal, with an official October 31 submission regarding the fast-tracking plants suggesting the units could be built on a new site, but the company's November 4 press release states that, "The units would be co-located at an existing Constellation generation facility."Regardless, a Constellation gas-turbine deployment in Maryland could be performed in a reasonable amount of time, as the company already owns the turbines. Maryland Matter quoted Mason Emnet, senior vice president for public policy, as saying, "The generally held belief is: It'll take you about five years to get through the ordering process and have a new turbine delivered. We already have the turbines. We are able to move as quickly as the permitting and selection and surrounding construction process allows."
Key Takeaways
- Constellation Energy has proposed several energy projects for Maryland.
- All of the proposed projects would account for 5,800 MW of new generation.
- Maryland's power consumption is growing substantially and is expected to experience continued large growth in the future, largely because of data centers.
- Constellation's largest generating assets in Maryland are the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant (1,790 MW) and the Conowingo hydropower station (572 MW).
About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
