THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY MARYLAND RELAY, EMPOWERING THOSE WHO ARE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING OR SPEECH DISABLED TO STAY CONNECTED BY PHONE.

[♪♪] CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

COME 0ING UP WE'RE STARKING THE ISSUE.

LICENSE PLATE READERS AND THE ARRIVAL BATTERIES SPARKS THE MOVE TO CLEAN ENERGY.

FIRST, THE BIG WEEK IN CAMPAIGN 26.

A NEW POLL AND A SHOWDOWN DEBATE IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

THE LEADING CANDIDATES WES MOORE AND HIS OPPONENT DAN FACED OFF AT MPT ON TUESDAY.

COX CRITICIZING GOVERNOR MOORE FOR TAX AND FEE INCREASES, DELAYS TO THE KEY BRIDGE AND FOR SPENDING TIME OUTSIDE OF MARYLAND ON POLITICS.

Mr.

COX TAKING HEAT FOR HIS BACKING OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND FEDERAL WORKER LAYOFFS AND OTHER TRUMP ACTIONS THAT IMPACTED MARYLAND.

HERE IS HOW THEY CLOSED THE DEBATE.

>> IMAGINE A MARYLAND WHERE WE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE.

WHERE OUR CHILDREN CAN AFFORD TO BUY HOMES WHERE RETIREES CAN AFFORD TO STAY HERE WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND WHERE OUR STRSES ARE SAFE AND WHERE WE'RE DRIVING OVER A BUILT KEY BRIDGE AND WHERE WE CAN PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO IMAGINE IT.

NOVEMBER 3 WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO MAKE IT A REAT.

MARYLANDERS ARE PAYING MORE AND AND GETTING LESS.

BUT THEY ARE FEELING LEFT BEHIND.

I WILL PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT BELIEVE ARABLE, CUT TAXES AND FEES, PROTECT OUR CITIES AND BALANCE THE BUDGET.

WES MOORE IS ABOUT TO OFFER HIS CLOSING REMARKS, PAINTING OVER YOUR REAL PAIN BUT YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF HE IS PRETENDING FORT D IS OKAY.

ARE ARE YOU BETTER OFF THAN FOUR YEARS AGO?

MORE OF THE SAME IS WHAT YOU WILL GET.

I'M DAN COX AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> I KNOW SOMETIMES THE POLITICS OF LIES AND DIVISION CAN MAKE US FEEL LIKE TO BE IS LISTEN AND I KNOW BECAUSE I'M IN OUR COMMUNITIES EVERYDAY AND THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR.

WE NEED LEADERS WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR YOU AND NOT JUST FOCUSING ON FIGHTING EACH OTHER.

DESPITE THE CHAOS AND CORRUPTION WE HAVE SEEN IN WASHINGTON D.C.

I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE CONFIDENT IN MARYLAND'S FUTURE.

IT IS NOT A BLIND FAITH I WAS RAISED RIGHT BY MY FAMILY AND TRAINED RIGHT BY THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND I WORSHIP A MIGHTY GOD.

WE'RE GROWING AND DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY OFF OF WASHINGTON D.C.

AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE AND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS THE BEST IN AMERICA AND HAVE THE GREATEST PUBLIC SAFETY TURN AROUND STORY IN THE COUNTRY.

I'M HONORED TO BE YOUR GOVERNOR.

I'M HUMBLY ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE SO WE CAN CONTINUE PUSHING MARYLAND FORWARD.

>> Jeff: THE DEBATE CAN BE SEEN AT MPT.ORG.

JOINING US IS MILEAH DIRECTOR OF THE UMBC INSTITUTE OF POLITICS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: YOU HAVE INTERESTING POLLING DATA THAT WE WILL GET TO, BUT FIRST YOU WATCHED OUR BIG GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE THIS WEEK, WHAT DID YOU THINK?

>> THE THINK THE MODERATOR AND DID AN EXCELLENT JOB COVERING.

>> WONDERFUL THING TO START WITH.

>> COVER -- I THINK THEY HIT THE MOST IMPORTANT TOPICS FACING MARYLAND TODAY.

NOT TO BE A CYNIC ABOUT DEBATES WE HAVE TO FACE A REALITY.

WE HAVE ONE CANDIDATE WITH A WAR CHEST, NAME RECOGNITION AND IS POLLING 27 POINTS AHEAD AND A CHALLENGER WHO EVEN IF HE HAD A KNOCK-DOWN-DRAG-OUT DEBATE PERFORMANCE, REALLY DOESN'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO CAPITALIZE ON IT.

AND THAT IS THE REALITIES OF THIS RACE.

>> Jeff: STILL A LITTLE BIT SURPRISE GIVEN ALL THAT, THAT GOVERNOR MOORE AND HIS TEAM WANTED TO DO THIS DEBATE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK DEBATES ARE IMPORTANT FOR DEMOCRACY.

THEY ARE IMPORTANT REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN NOVEMBER AND WHAT OUR POLLS SHOWED IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GOVERNOR AND THE PERSON WHO WANTS TO TAKE HIS JOB TO SPELL OUT POLICY POSITIONS AND A CHANCE TO ANSWER TO REPORTERS AND THE MODERATOR.

>> Jeff: AND MAYBE IT'S GOOD PRACTICE IF SOMEBODY'S AMBITION IS TO BE INCLUDED IN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES NEXT YEAR.

>> THAT WAS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST NEWS AND THE SPLASH THAT CAME OUT OF THE DEBATE WAS THE FACT THAT GOVERNOR MOORE ON WHETHER HE WOULD SERVE HIS FULL FOUR YEARS.

TO THAT POINT, IT IS INTERESTING CONVERSATION BUT THERE ARE SO FEW AMONG US THAT WOULD EVER BE ASKED OR RECRUITED TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

I DON'T BLAME HIM.

>> Jeff: LET'S LOOK AT THE HORSERACE QUESTION IN THE UMBC'S STATE-WIDE POLL LIKELY VOTERS 51% PREPARING TO VOTE FOR GOVERNOR MOORE 24% FOR REPUBLICAN DAN COX.

THE SMALLER PARTY THE GREEN PARTY AND THE WORKING CLASS PARTY THEIR CANDIDATES AT 3 EACH AND UNDECIDES.

>> THE LEAD UP LOOKS LIKE IT DID IN 2022.

WES MOORE THE CANDIDATE IS UP ON HIS REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER.

THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME VOTES GOING PERHAPS TO THE TWO THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES.

AS WELL AS FOLKS UNDECIDED RIGHT NOW BUT THIS IS THE REALITY OF THE MARYLAND ELECTORATE.

DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS DEMOCRATS ARE BEHIND THEIR GOVERNOR HE IS GETTING SOME UNAFFILIATED VOTES NOT AS MUCH AS HE WILL END UP WITH ON ELECTION DAY BUT IT IS REALLY A QUESTION ABOUT Mr.

COX AND HIS VIABILITY AS A STATE-WIDE CANDIDATE IT IS NOT JUST THE MONEY IT IS A MISMATCH.

THE PATH FOR A REPUBLICAN IN MARYLAND IS YOU HAVE TO BE A MODERATE, YOU HAVE TO BE VIEWED BY A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE ELECTORATE AS A MODERATE LIKE LARRY HOGAN WAS.

WE ASKED PEOPLE TO PLACE GOVERNOR MOORE AND Mr.

COX ON A SCALE.

THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS PUT HIM AS CONSERVATIVE OR VERY CONSERVATIVE AND A SMALL PERCENTAGE SAID HE IS A MOD RATTLE.

YOU CANNOT APPEAL ACROSS PARTY LINES AND YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO CLEAN UP AMONG THE UNAFFILIATED VOTERS.

THAT HOGAN COALITION IS THE PATH TO VICTORY AND NOTHING IN OUR POLL SUGGESTS THAT Mr.

COX IS REBUILDING THAT COALITION.

>> Jeff: DOES THE GOVERNOR'S TOP LINE NUMBER, 51% AND A SIMILAR NUMBER 50% JOB APPROVAL, INDICATE THAT A MORE MODERATE REPUBLICAN MIGHT HAVE MADE THIS A MORE INTERESTING RACE, BEARING IN MIND THE INCUMBENT DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR HAS LOST IN MARYLAND IN 75 YEARS.

>> THERE'S ALWAYS THE IF'S AND BUT'S THAT MAYBE A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE MAYBE MAKE MORE INROADS BUT YOU ARE HITTING AT THE MAJOR REALITY THAT DEMOCRATS MAKEUP THE MAJORITY OF THE STATE AND THEY ARE STANDING BEHIND THEIR INCUMBENT GOVERNOR.

IT WOULD TAKE A LOTTED FOR A REPUBLICAN TO UNSEAT A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR REGARDLESS HOW POWERFUL THEY WERE PARTICULARLY ONE THAT IS NOT THAT WIDE KNOWN ACROSS THE STATE ARE 0 ONE A MISMATCH.

>> Jeff: THERE IS SUSPENSE ON THE MARYLAND BALLOT IN THE FORM OF QUESTION 3 JUST APPROVED IN A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

IT WOULD BASICALLY REMOVE ANY RESTRICTIONS IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION AS FAR AS THE LEGISLATURE DRAWING NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF POLLS ON THIS THAT SHOWED IT CLOSE.

BUT YOUR POLL SHOWS IT SIGNIFICANTLY TRAILING, 25% FOR, 53% AGAINST.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> I THINK IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE IN WORDING.

BOTH OF THOSE POLLS CONDUCTED BY POLLSTERS, FOR AND AGAINST, QUESTION 3, THEY USED THE POLL BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT IS WHAT MARYLANDERS WILL SEE WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE BALLOT.

WHAT I THOUGHT [INAUDIBLE] THE POLLSTERS HAD ALREADY ASKED THE CLEAR BALLOT LANGUAGE QUESTION BEFORE WE WERE IN THE FIELD.

I WAS INTERESTED IN THE ATTITUDES.

PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY WHAT QUESTION 3 WOULD DO WHAT DO THEY THINK ABOUT IT?

IT GETS TO PEOPLE'S DISLIKE OF DRAWING DISRICK LINES FAVORING ONE PARTY OR ANOTHER.

THERE IS AN ISSUE PEOPLE HAVE WITH THAT SORT OF POLITICS AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, THAT MARYLAND IS DOING NOW IS A RESPONSE TO WHAT HAPPENED BACK IN 2025 WHEN DONALD TRUMP ENCOURAGED TEXAS REPUBLICANS TO DO MID-CYCLE REDISTRICTING.

I'M LOOKING FOR THE RAMP UP OF MESSAGING BOTH FOR AND AGAINST THEY HAVE TWO CLEAR LINES AND CLEAR IDEAS TO SELL TO MARYLANDERS.

THE AGAINST PEOPLE WILL TALK ABOUT FAIRNESS AND LOSING THAT ONE REPUBLICAN SEAT.

THE PEOPLE FOR IT WILL THE TERMS WHETHER YOU WANT TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST TRUMP OR NOT.

>> Jeff: IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A MASSIVE EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN FROM THE OPPONENTS TO OVERCOME THE BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT WAS RATIFIED OR SET BY THE STATE SUPREME COURT THAT IS FAIRLY OPAQUE.

AND I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT SORT OF MONEY BUYING ADS ON EITHER SIDE OF THIS.

SO IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT THE POLL RESULTS YOU HAVE ARE NOT NECESSARILY PREDICTIVE OF THE OUTCOME NEXT MONTH?

>> RIGHT.

I SAY THAT FLAT OUT IN OUR PRESS RELEASE I TRY TO BE AS CLEAR AS POSSIBLE WHAT OUR POLL DID WE DID NOT USE THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, WE TRIED TO GET INTO THE ATTITUDES.

THE WHOLE IDEA OF REDISTRICTING IS A CHANGE IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE DONE, AND UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE'S VALUES AND PEOPLE'S THEIR VIEWS TOWARDS DEMOCRACY IS IMPORTANT.

SO WE ASKED PEOPLE ABOUT OTHER ISSUES FACING DEMOCRACY.

MONEY AND POLITICS IS A HUGE ONE.

PEOPLE THINKING THAT THE EVERYDAY PERSON DOESN'T HAVE A SAY.

THESE ARE ALL ISSUES AT THAT TIME PEOPLE CARE ABOUT.

BUT DRAWING DISTRICT LINES TO FAVOR ONE PARTY OR ANOTHER IS A TOP PROBLEM AT THAT TIME HAD MARYLANDERS ARE IDENTIFYING FACING DEMOCRACY.

>> Jeff: RELATED TO THAT YOU ASKED ABOUT OPEN PRIMARIES THE IDEA NO MATTER WHAT YOUR REGISTRATION SAYS, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, UNAFFILIATED YOU CAN VOTE IN WHICHEVER PRIMARY YOU LIKE.

AND THAT WAS POPULAR WITH 60%, NO WAS 32.

>> AND IT IS POPULAR.

THIS IS SOMETHING INTRODUCED IT HASN'T GOT MOMENTUM.

YOU START TO LOOK AT THE FOLKS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE PRIMARIES OPENED UP TO INCLUDE UNAFFILIATED VOTERS.

DEMOCRATS ARE SUPPORTIVE, UP AFFILIATED ARE THE MOST SUPPORTIVE BUT REPUBLICANS ARE SITTING AT 44% WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PRIMARIES OPEN.

I FIND THIS FASCINATING BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS HAVE THE MOST TO GAIN ALLOWING UNAFFILIATED VOTERS TO CAST THE BALLOT IN THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS IT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE A MODERATING FORCE BUT WHAT IT DOES IT REIATES A HA BITTALITY.

IF YOU PASS THE BALLOT PERHAPS YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO CAST YOUR VOTE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

GETTING THE UNAFFILIATED VOTERS ARE WHAT REPUBLICANS NEED.

WE OFTEN DESCRIBE MARYLAND AS A TWO TO ONE STATE BUT RIGHT NOW AT THE LEVELS OF REPUBLICAN AND UNAFFILIATED VOTER REGISTRATION IT IS A TWO-ONE-ONE STATE.

>> Jeff: BECAUSE THE UNAFFILIATED VOTERS IS EQUAL TO REPUBLICANS?

>> THE DIFFERENCE IS UNAFFILIATED VOTERS NEVER TURNOUT AT THE SAME RATE AS DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

PERHAPS IF THEY ENGAGE IN THE PRIMARIES, THEY MIGHT.

>> Jeff: INTERESTING.

YOU VERIFIED THAT EVERYBODY HATES DATA CENTERS, RIGHT?

>> NOT A FAN.

THIS ISSUE IS FASCINATING TO ME MOSTLY BECAUSE TWO YEARS AGO, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A NO FOR ALL THE QUESTIONS WE ASKED ABOUT DATA CENTERS.

OVER THE LAST YEAR, THE NEGATIVITY TOWARDS THEM HAS BOOSTED AND WHAT IS FASCINATING WHAT WE DID ON OUR POLL, I WONDERED ARE PEOPLE MAD ABOUT DATA CENTERS IN MARYLAND OR UPSET ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A DATA CENTER BEING IN THEIR COMMUNITY?

SO WE DID A SAMPLE METHOD WHERE HALF THE PEOPLE GOT A QUESTION ASKING ABOUT SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING DATA CENTERS IN MARYLAND AND THE OTHER HALF OPPOSING DATA CENTERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY THE NUMBERS WERE EXACTLY THE SAME.

>> Jeff: YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE POLL ON THE UMBC WEBSITE.

Dr.

CHROMIER APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

LEGISLATURES ARE LOOKING TO REGULATE LICENSE PLATE READING CAMERAS.

THE NEW TECHNOLOGY SOLVED CRIMES, BUT RAISES SIGNIFICANT PRIVACY CONCERNS AS NANCY YAMADA REPORTS.

>> BETWEEN DATA CENTERS AND FLOCK CAMERAS WE ARE HEARING A LOT FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THESE TWO ISSUES.

>> SENATOR LAMB SAYS HE SHARES PEOPLE'S CONCERNS ABOUT FLOCK CAMERAS IN THE U.S.

THERE ARE 120,000 OF THESE LICENSE PLATE READERS WHICH USE CAMERAS TO ANALYZE VEHICLE DATA ON PUBLIC ROADS.

>> HERE IN THE UNITED STATES THERE IS A REAL DRIVE TO ENSURE THERE'S PRIVACY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND HAVING FLOCK CAMERAS AROUND WITHOUT MUCH GUARDRAILS IN PLACE THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF IS RAISING A LOT OF HAIRS ON PEOPLE'S NECKS ON WHERE ALL THIS DATA IS GOING AND HOW IT CAN BE USED.

>> ACCORDING TO THE DATA IN MARYLAND THERE ARE 1088 CAMERAS HAD IT OPERATION.

SALISBURY HAS THE MOST FOLLOWED BY BALTIMORE CITY WITH 56, FREDERICK WITH 44 INIDANAPOLIS ARE 38 THE.

POLICE OFTEN USE THE DATA TO TRACK STOLEN VEHICLES LOCATE MISSING PERSONS AND RECONSTRUCT TRAVEL TIMELINES IN THE EVENT OF A CRIME.

>> IF YOU ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG WHY DO WE CARE?

THEY COULD BE MISUSED ARE THERE GUARDRAILS IN PLACE?

WHERE IS THE DATA GOING AND HOW LONG IS IT BEING STORED.

>> SENATOR LAMB IS PLANNING TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO REIN IN CAMERAS AND IT HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> THAT INFORMATION CAN BE SOLD TO THIRD PARTY VENDORS AND WE OWE IT TO OUR CITIZENS TO MAKE SURE THE GUARDRAILS ARE IN PLACE.

>> SENATOR FOLD EN BELIEVES THERE NEEDS TO BE LAWS AROUND WHO CAN ACCESS THE INFORMATION FROM THE FLOCK CAMERAS AND HOW IT CAN BE USED.

>> THERE WAS A LOCAL COMMUNITY NOT FAR FROM WHERE I LIVE THAT PUT THE CAMERAS IN PLACE WITHOUT PUBLIC COMMENT OR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND FLOCK'S COMING IN AND MAKING A SWEET DEAL FOR THESE AREAS.

BUT THERE IS A BENEFIT NOT JUST TO WHAT COULD BE LAW ENFORCEMENT THEY ARE GETTING A BENEFIT BECAUSE THEY ARE ABLE TO SELL THAT INFORMATION TO THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS.

OTHERWISE WHAT IS THE BENEFIT.

>> CONCERNS ARE GROWING ABOUT THE MISUSE OF THAT PRIVATE INFORMATION.

>> MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE A CHECK IN PLACE SIMILAR TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES YOU NEED TO GET A WARRANT OR A JUDGE TO SIGN OFF ON THE FACT THAT THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE.

>> ISSUES TO HASH OUT COME JANUARY WHEN LAWMAKERS RETURN TO INIDANAPOLIS.

I'M NANCY YAMADA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

[♪♪] >> Jeff: NOW OUR NEWSMAKER IS EVE VAN BON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY CALLED MERRICK ACTION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE WITH YOU, JEFF.

>> Jeff: MARYLAND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION HAS TAKEN ACTION ON BATTERY STORAGE.

WE WILL GET INTO THE DETAILS OF THAT.

FIRST TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR GROUP AND THEN WHY BATTERIES ARE KIND OF THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO MY ORGANIZATION WE ARE A 501C NONPROFIT AND WE REPRESENT LARGE SCALE STORAGE, SO SOLAR AND WIND OPERATORS ACTIVE IN MARYLAND AND ACROSS THE GRID THE 13 STATE ELECTRICITY GRID THAT MARYLAND IS A PART OF.

>> Jeff: AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BATTERIES WE THINK ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY AND SOLAR, GREAT WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING BUT IT GETS DARK AT NIGHT.

AND WIND POWER SOMETIMES THE WIND STOPS BLOWING YOU NEED A WAY TO CAPTURE SOME OF THAT ELECTRICITY, RIGHT?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

AND THAT IS WHAT A BATTERY PROVIDES FOR THE LARGER ELECTRIC GRID.

TO HELP FOLKS WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR UNDERSTAND HOW THE TECHNOLOGY WORKS, REALLY THESE BATTERIES ARE A SUPER SIZED VERSION OF THE BATTERY YOU HAVE IN YOUR CELLPHONE OR A BALLOTRY IN THE ELECTRIC CAR INSTEAD OF POWERING YOUR DEVICE IT'S CONNECTED TO THE ELECTRIC GRID OVER THE 13 STATES AND CAN HELP TO POWER YOUR HOME, BUSINESSES AND FACTORIES AND SO ON.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE ROLE HAD AT THAT TIME BATTERY STORAGE PLAYS IT'S COMPLICATED MACHINE.

IT IS TRUE THAT SOMETIMES THE SUN IS NOT SHINING AND SOMETIMES THE WIND IS NOT BLOWING OUT GAS PLANTS AND NUCLEAR PLANTS HAVE TO GO DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE.

NO MATTER WHAT WE HAVE ON THE GRID THERE IS A ROLE TO FILL IN THE GAPS.

YOU CAN THINK OF IT LIKE A SHOCK ABSORBER FOR THE ELECTRIC GRID.

WHEN THERE IS A HOT SUMMER AFTERNOON LIKE JULY 4 EVERYBODY IS CRANING UP THE AIR-CONDITIONERS, BATTERY CAN TAKE CHEAP ELECTRICITY THAT MAY HAVE CHARGED OVERNIGHT AND PUTTED IT OUT ON THE GRID WHICH HELPS TO LOWER PRICES FOR EVERYBODY AND IMPORTANTLY KEEPS OUR AIR-CONDITIONERS ON SO WE'RE NOT SWEATING.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS IT THAT THE MARYLAND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION THE UTILITY REGULATOR HAS NOW DONE?

>> SO NOTABLY, THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION JUST APPROVED 440 MEGAWATTS OF NEW LARGE SCALE BATTERY STORAGE PROJECTS.

TWO DIFFERENT PROJECTS ONE IS 400 MEGAWATTS AND ONE IS 40.

WHAT IS A MEGAWATT?

YOUR LISTERS CAN THINK ABOUT A THOUSAND MEGAWATTS IS THE CAPACITY OF A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT THESE ARE BIG BATTERIES THEY CAN SERVE CUSTOMERS AT THE SCALE OF A CITY OR COUNTY, NOT JUST AT THE SCALE OF A HOME OR A BUSINESS.

THIS IS A REALLY BIG STEP FORWARD FOR MARYLAND BY SELECTING THESE PROJECTS.

THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION HAS IMPLEMENTED NOW WHAT WAS PAST TWO YEARS AGO AND THE NEXT GENERATION ENERGY ACT BY THE MARYLAND LEGISLATURE AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE BILL WAS DESIGNED TO STABILIZE ELECTRICITY RATES FOR CONSUMERS.

FOLKS I AM A MARYLAND RATEPAYER AND MY BILL HAS GONE UP A LOT TOO AND PART OF THE REASON IS A SUPPLY DEMAND IMBALANCE ON OUR GRID.

THERE'S TOO MUCH DEMAND NOT ENOUGH SUPPOSE PRY AND THESE BATTERIES CAN HELP THAT OUT TO STABILIZE FOLKS' ELECTRICITY RATES OVER TIME.

WE WERE EXCITED TO SEE THE PROGRAM COME TO FRUITION.

AND THERE'S MORE TO COME NEXT YEAR THERE WILL BE ANOTHER PROCUREMENT FOR ADDITIONAL 180 MEGAWATTS BATTERY.

AS SOMEONE WANTS TO INVEST IN MARYLAND IT'S REWARDING TO SEE THE PROGRAM COME TO PASS AND ULTIMATELY THE BENEFICIARIES WILL BE THE RATEPAYERS.

>> Jeff: HOW IS THAT?

BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING MONEY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ON THESE PLANTS AND IT'S NOT LIKE THEY GENERATE THE POWER.

SO IT'S SORT OF AN EXPENSE TO MOVE THE POWER FROM WHEN YOU HAVE TOO MUCH TO WHEN YOU NEED IT?

>> THAT IS A GOOD WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT.

WHAT MAKES THE GRID IS TRANSMISSION LINES AND DISTRIBUTION LANES THE POLES AND WIRES.

AND BATTERIES YOU CAN THINK OF AS A WAY TO MOVE ELECTRICITY THROUGH TIME NOT THROUGH SPACE LIKE THE POLES AND WIRES DO.

THE WAY IT SAVES CONSUMERS MONEY IS TWO FOLD.

ONE YOU CAN MOVE CHEAP ELECTRICITY FROM FOR EXAMPLE THE EVENING HOURS EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DEMAND ON THE GRID INTUITIVELY YOU AL CAN BUY LOW AND SELL HIGH AND THAT EVENS OUT PRICES.

ANOTHER WAY IT SAVES MONEY IS BY DISPLACING PEAKER POWER PLANTINGS.

MAYBE A DIESEL GENERATOR 0 ARE A GAS PLANT THAT HAS TO COME ON-LINE TO MEET DEMAND LIKE THE HOT SUMMER AFTERNOON.

IF YOU HAVE A BATTERY, YOU ARE ABLE TO USE THAT CHEAP ELECTRICITY YOU ARE NOT HAVING TO PAY FOR MORE NATURAL GAS OR MORE DIESEL FUEL.

AND THAT HAS A FUEL SAVINGS FOR EVERYBODY AS WELL.

LESS OF THAT FUEL THAT WE'RE USING ULTIMATELY THE PRICE OF THAT FUEL COMES DOWN AND THAT ALSO ENDS UP BEING A SAVINGS FOR CONSUMERS.

>> Jeff: ARE THERE BIG UTILITY SCALE BATTERY FACILITIES OPERATING ELSEWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IN SOME WAYS, THE PJM REGION, THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION IS TRAILING OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

BOTH CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS HAVE OVER 10 GIGA WATTS IT IS A THOUSAND MEGAWATTS, 10 NUCLEAR PLANT WORTH OF BATTERIES AND TEXAS HAD SERIOUS RELIABILITY ISSUES WHEN LIGHTS WENT OUT AND PEOPLE WERE FREEZINGS NOW WE'RE SEEING THE BATTERIES IN TEXAS THE RELIABILITY OF THE GRID IS ACTUALLY GONE UP TO THE POINT THEY ARE NOT HAVING THOSE CONCERNS ANYMORE.

SO WE'VE SEEN THESE RESOURCES BEEN EFFECTIVE AT DOING THE JOB THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO WHICH IS KEEPING THE GRID RELIABLE AND CAPTURING LOW COST ENERGY.

>> Jeff: HOW ABOUT COMMUNITY IMPACT FROM ONE OF THESE FACILITIES?

IT LOOKS BIG AND TECHNICAL LOOKING AND IF A NEIGHBORHOOD IS GOING TO GET ONE OF THESE OR A DATA CENTER WHICH ONE WOULD YOU PICK?

>> I WOULDN'T PICK A BAT BATTERY BUT I'M BIASED.

I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED DATA CENTERS AND I WILL TALK ABOUT THE IMPACTS ONE THING IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR VIEWERS TO KNOW IS THAT MARYLAND NEEDS THIS KIND OF DISPATCHABLE ELECTRICITY GENERATING CAPACITY LIKE A BATTERY WITHOUT DATA CENTERS.

DATA CENTERS ARE DRIVING A LOT OF THE DEMAND FOR THESE RESOURCES.

BUT IF YOU TOOK DATA CENTERS AND PUT THEM ASIDE AND WE DIDN'T BUILD ANOTHER DATA CENTER THERE WOULD BE A LEVEL OF NEED FOR THE BATTERIES BECAUSE THE OVERALL GRID HAS NOT BEEN ADDING NEW RESOURCES AS QUICKLY AS IT'S RETIRING RESOURCES.

THERE IS SOMETIMES A WANT TO ASSOCIATE BATTERIES OR NEW POWER PLANTS WITH DATA CENTERS AND THERE'S SOME TRUTH TO THAT BUT THERE IS A NEED WITHOUT IT.

AS FAR AS THE IMPACTS GO THAT YOU MENTIONED, BATTERIES ARE SIMILAR TO ANOTHER POWER INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU MIGHT SEE LIKE A TRANSFORMER OR A SUBSTATION.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BE RIGHT NEXT TO THEM BUT IF THERE IS A FENCE A BUFFER, YOU HAVE AN APPROPRIATE SETBACK WHICH THE PROJECTS ARE SET TO HAVE 100 FOOT BUFFERS AROUND THEM.

YOU ARE SAFE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES UP A LOT ARE FIRES A CONCERN.

BATTERY FIRES HAVE GOTTEN MUCH LESS PREVALENT THAN THEY WERE WHEN THE TECHNOLOGY FIRST DEBUTED.

IF YOU LOOK AT A CHART, THE RATE OF INSTANCE HAS GONE DOWN.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THE LEGISLATURE DID WHEN THEY PASSED THE NEXT GENERATION ENERGY ACT THEY REQUIRED THAT EVERY BATTERY FACILITY BUILT IN MARYLAND HAS TO FOLLOW THE MOST UP-TO-DATE FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS IMPLEMENTED BY THE FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION NFPA THOSE STANDARDS ARE CONSISTENTLY UPDATED AND MAKE SURE IF THERE IS AN INCIDENT AT A FACILITY, THAT IT'S HANDLED SAFELY AND WITHOUT AN IMPACT TO THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY.

>> Jeff: EVAN VAUGHAN WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> Jeff: THANK YOU FOR WATCHING WE'LL SEE YOU BACK MONDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

FOR "DIRECT