Maryland Nets 440 MW/1,760 MWh In First Bulk Energy Storage Procurement

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Maryland’s Public Service Commission selected two transmission-connected battery projects totaling 440 MW and 1,760 MWh in the state’s first bulk storage procurement. The awards are below the 800-MW first-round target; the commission says it plans to open a second solicitation by Jan. 1, 2027.

Maryland selected two transmission-connected battery projects totaling 440 MW and 1,760 MWh in its first bulk energy storage procurement, the state Public Service Commission announced Oct. 1. The awards fall short of the commission’s 800-MW first-round target, as Maryland seeks more storage amid tight electricity capacity conditions in the PJM region.

The selected projects are Flatiron Energy’s 400-MW/1,600-MWh Chalk Point Storage Project in south-central Maryland and REV Renewables’ 40-MW/160-MWh Jade Meadow III Battery Storage Project in the state’s far west. Both are transmission-connected and are designed to deliver their full rated output for four hours, matching the minimum duration required for eligible projects under the state program.

The commission said the projects will receive flat pricing for 15-year terms. Their combined cost is estimated at 6.98 cents per month for the average Maryland residential customer, according to the commission. The source report does not specify a separate estimate for an individual customer’s bill impact beyond that stated average.

The commission did not select Oystercatcher Energy Storage’s proposed 500-MW/3,000-MWh project or a 135-MW/540-MWh Chalk Point expansion proposed by Flatiron in a revised filing after the initial application window closed. The agency said Flatiron could apply for the expansion in the next round and invited Oystercatcher to consider participating again.

Storage Awards Meet PJM Capacity Pressures

The awards add dispatchable electricity storage to a regional grid facing a reported 6.8-GW capacity shortfall for the 2028-2029 delivery year. Utility Dive reported that the projected gap was 300 MW larger than in the previous period and that PJM capacity prices remained at the $325 per MW-day cap. Storage can shift electricity across hours, but the announced awards alone do not close the regional shortfall.

The projects could also affect Maryland customers through the long-term pricing structure. MAREC Action executive director Evan Vaughan said the projects “can help meet growing electricity demand while reducing exposure to volatile capacity prices that ultimately affect customers’ bills.” That is an attributed assessment, not a quantified forecast of savings in the commission’s announcement.

For Maryland, the procurement is one tool in a broader energy policy effort. The state has a statutory 2045 net-zero emissions target and a gubernatorial-order goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035. The storage awards contribute capacity to the system, but the commission’s first-round total remains below its stated target.

Maryland’s Two-Round Storage Law

Maryland’s Next Generation Energy Act was passed in 2025. It requires the state to conduct at least two solicitations for a combined 1.6 GW of energy storage capacity. Qualifying projects must be capable of discharging at full power for at least four hours.

The first-round awards were announced on the law’s statutory deadline, according to the source report. The commission said it will open bidding for round two by Jan. 1, 2027, and the law sets an Oct. 1, 2027 deadline for announcing that round’s awards.

The selected sites have different settings. Flatiron’s Chalk Point project is planned at NRG’s oil- and gas-fired power plant in Prince George’s County. REV’s Jade Meadow III is planned on part of a reclaimed coal mine in Garrett County, near the state’s borders with West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

““While we are disappointed that these awards are below our 800-MW target for Round 1, our Round 2 solicitation is expected to attract many more offers due to a pool of over 40 additional energy storage projects from PJM’s Cycle 1 interconnection process.””

— Maryland Public Service Commission Chair Kumar Barve

Round Two and Project Outcomes

The commission has not yet disclosed which additional projects will bid in round two or how much storage that round will award. Barve referred to more than 40 additional projects from PJM’s Cycle 1 interconnection process as a potential source of offers, but that does not establish that all will apply or qualify.

The source report also does not provide construction schedules, expected in-service dates, project financing details, or separate customer cost estimates for each award. Oystercatcher’s future participation is not confirmed: the commission invited the project to consider round two and cited a need for further local engagement.

Second Solicitation Opens by January

Maryland is required to open bidding for its second storage procurement by Jan. 1, 2027, with project awards due by Oct. 1, 2027. The commission expects the next round to draw from the additional projects referenced by Barve, though the number and capacity of actual bids remain unknown.

In the meantime, the first-round projects must proceed toward development and eventual operation. The available announcement identifies their locations, sizes and contract terms, but does not give construction or operating dates.

Key Questions

How much storage did Maryland select?

The state selected two projects totaling 440 MW of power capacity and 1,760 MWh of energy capacity.

Which projects received awards?

Flatiron Energy’s 400-MW/1,600-MWh Chalk Point project and REV Renewables’ 40-MW/160-MWh Jade Meadow III project were selected.

Did the first round meet Maryland’s target?

No. The 440-MW award total is below the commission’s 800-MW first-round target, a shortfall Chair Kumar Barve acknowledged.

When is the next storage procurement?

The commission must open bidding for round two by Jan. 1, 2027, and announce awards by Oct. 1, 2027.

What happened to the other proposed projects?

The commission did not award Oystercatcher Energy Storage’s 500-MW proposal or Flatiron’s proposed Chalk Point expansion in this round. It invited Oystercatcher to consider round two and said Flatiron could reapply for its expansion.

Source: rss