PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION’S ACTION TO CONSTRUCT NEW NATURAL GAS PLANT IN CHARLES COUNTY

ANNAPOLIS, MD - Governor Martin O’Malley issued the following statement on the Public Service Commission’s action to construct a new natural gas plant in Charles County:

“The Public Service Commission is required to ensure an adequate supply of electricity so that Maryland families and businesses can live and prosper. In light of the fact that 70 percent of Maryland’s existing power plants are more than 30 years old, I applaud the decision by the Public Service Commission that will lead to the construction of a new natural gas plant in Charles County.

“Expected to be operational by June 2015, this plant will be the first of this size to be built in Maryland since June 2003. This new facility will bring a new energy supply to a significantly congested area of Maryland, create at least 350 jobs during construction and an estimated 30 jobs when fully operational, and directly save Marylanders over $170 million throughout the life of the contract. Analysis by state agencies indicate that new generation in central Maryland can also bring hundreds of millions of dollars of savings in lowered energy, capacity, and congestion prices in the State. The PSC’s action helps diversify Maryland’s power supply.

“With this new addition, natural gas will account for over nine percent of Maryland’s energy generation.”