BARTON — Maryland’s largest proposed solar project has received support for an incentive aimed to help with funding.
The Maryland Public Service Commission, during a first round of the state’s Next Generation Energy Act procurement, conditionally awarded the Jade Meadow III battery storage project an energy storage capacity credit.
The credit acts as a hedge against future PJM Interconnection capacity market price uncertainty “by providing a more stable revenue stream,” and improves financing chances for large energy storage projects, the PSC said via press release Thursday.
The commission also selected for the credit the Chalk Point storage plan in Prince George’s County.
“Together, these projects would provide 440 megawatts of potential energy storage capacity with four-hour durations under flat, 15-year award terms, subject to the commission’s approval conditions and obligations,” the release stated.
“The combined estimated cost of the two selected projects is 6.98 cents per month for a typical Maryland residential customer.”
After public and evidentiary hearings earlier this year, the PSC determined the Chalk Point and Jade Meadow projects “were the most cost-effective and highest ranked” of five initial applicants after two of them withdrew from consideration.
The Chalk Point and Jade Meadow projects must apply for construction approval from the PSC, which will require additional public and evidentiary hearings on issues that include safety, siting and environmental impacts.
The PSC will request applications by Jan. 1, 2027, for Round 2 of the credit awards process.
“These awards are an important milestone for Maryland in our efforts to meet state energy policy goals set by the Legislature in recent years,” PSC Chairperson Kumar Barve said via the release.
“While we are disappointed that these awards are below our 800-megawatt 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.”
ProjectAccording to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the project in December 2024 applied for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct a 300 megawatt alternating current solar array.
“The project’s life cycle is expected to be approximately 30 years,” DNR’s website stated.
The proposed site includes 32 parcels on nearly 6,000 acres, however “not all will be used for project facilities, as appropriate areas have been excluded based on environmental constraints mapping and construction feasibility,” DNR said.
Most of the parcels were permitted and mined for coal starting in the 1970s.
“However, mining activities took place before state permitting laws and regulations were in place for mining activities, most notably surface mining between the 1940s and 1950s,” DNR said. “In addition, deep mines were prevalent in Garrett County, including this area, dating back to the 1800s with little official documentation.”
The project might include an overhead collector line on six easement parcels in Allegany County in a conservation-zoned district that would normally require a special exemption.
“However, preemption may negate that need,” DNR said. “The applicant stated that they will complete all local county reviews required by the PSC’s licensing conditions prior to the start of construction.”
CompanyAccording to Rev Renewables, Jade Meadow III is planned mostly for Garrett County, partly in Allegany County, near Westernport.
The company’s website states its mission is “to accelerate decarbonization of electricity supply and create lasting value for all our stakeholders by deploying and operating reliable and affordable renewable generation and storage solutions.”
Jade Meadow III is expected to begin construction in 2026, “and reach commercial operations in the second half of 2028,” the company stated. The venture “is the largest solar project to be proposed in the state of Maryland to date and will provide meaningful local tax revenue, economic development, and payments to landowners.”