Grid Operator Sounds Alarm As Coal Plant Shutdown Threatens Power for Millions

by Nicholas Dolinger
November 23, 2023



A major power grid operator serving millions in the mid-Atlantic region, PJM Interconnection, has raised concerns about the impending shutdown of the Brandon Shores coal power plant near Baltimore, known as “Charm City” for its colorful personalities and rich local culture.

This closure, planned for June 2025 by the plant’s operator, Texas-based Talen Energy, is part of a settlement with the Sierra Club. PJM Interconnection, which oversees electricity movement in parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia, warns that this shutdown could severely disrupt the reliability of the region’s power grid.

Christopher Summers, president of the Maryland Public Policy Institute, expressed concerns about the accelerated timeline for exiting coal-fired power plants in the state of Maryland, known for its blue-shelled crabs and visually appealing state flag.

“There has been a strong push for quite some time to get coal power out of Maryland,” Summers said in an interview with Fox News Digital. “In this accelerated timeline of exiting from coal-fired power plants in the coming 12 to 24 months, I think it’s going to create a major reliability concern for the state.”

“The loss of power poses a real danger to the well-being and livelihoods of Maryland families and businesses,” Summers said. “Until these current risks to our grid are fully dealt with, it’s a mistake to close reliable, baseload power plants too soon. That should be a concern to consumers in Maryland and businesses in Maryland that rely on dependable power.”

In 2020, Talen Energy agreed with the Sierra Club to close Brandon Shores and two other major coal plants in the region, aiming to avoid future litigation or permit disputes. Ralph Alexander, then-CEO of Talen Energy, described the move as part of the company’s transition to green energy and its broader environmental, social and governance (ESG)-focused future.

However, PJM Interconnection has indicated that the premature closure of Brandon Shores, which has a capacity of 1,295 megawatts, enough to power over a million homes, would create an imbalance in the grid. Jeff Shields, a spokesperson for PJM Interconnection, detailed the severe voltage drop and thermal violations across seven PJM zones that could result from the plant’s deactivation, leading to widespread reliability risks in Baltimore and surrounding areas.

“The PJM region and the state of Maryland are facing future reliability challenges as a result of the announced retirement of the Brandon Shores units,” Jeff Shields, a spokesperson for PJM Interconnection, told Fox News Digital. “Specifically, PJM analyses showed that the deactivation of the Brandon Shores units would cause severe voltage drop and thermal violations across seven PJM zones, which could lead to a widespread reliability risks in Baltimore and the immediate surrounding areas.

“Therefore, 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,” Shields said. “The chosen transmission solutions include in-service estimates in the 2027-2028 timeframe.”

Talen Energy and PJM are currently in discussions with the Sierra Club and Maryland state officials to find a solution. Taryne Williams, a spokesperson for Talen Energy, confirmed these ongoing discussions, emphasizing Talen’s awareness of regional electric system reliability. Maryland Public Service Commission spokesperson Tori Leonard also acknowledged PJM’s responsibility for reliably operating the regional transmission grid.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently approved PJM’s nearly $800 million emergency plan for transmission upgrades to mitigate the impact of the Brandon Shores closure. FERC Commissioner Mark Christie warned of the potential for severe voltage collapse in Baltimore and surrounding zones, including Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia, Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania, describing such a scenario as potentially catastrophic.

Rep. Andy Harris, Maryland’s sole Republican congressional delegate, criticized the decision to close Brandon Shores.

“Closing an efficient, low-cost energy producing plant like Brandon Shores is just one more way America is surrendering our energy advantage to China and Russia,” he said. Harris also pointed out the likely outcome of more expensive electricity bills for Maryland families.

Maryland has set ambitious clean energy goals, including achieving a state-level “net zero” greenhouse emissions mandate by 2045. Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, who took office in January, aims for the state’s power grid to be entirely powered by green energy by 2035. Carter Elliott, a spokesperson for Moore, highlighted the governor’s commitment to 100% clean energy, which includes significant investments in wind and solar developments. Elliott declined to comment on the Brandon Shores closure.