In Maryland, over the last twelve months from July 2025 to June 2026, the state has shown an intriguing energy consumption profile. Nearly 40% of the electricity is sourced from net imports, making it the largest single contributor. Low-carbon or clean energy accounts for about 31% of the state's electricity consumption, highlighting Maryland’s efforts towards sustainable energy solutions. Within this category, nuclear energy is the most significant, supplying over 22% of the electricity, while solar and wind energy make more modest contributions, with solar comprising around 5% and wind close to 1%. On the other hand, fossil fuels collectively provide roughly 29% of electricity, with natural gas being the predominant fossil fuel at nearly 24%, and coal and oil making up the rest in smaller portions.

Is Electricity Growing in Maryland?

Maryland's electricity consumption is on a moderately upward trend, growing from 10,665 kWh per person in 2025 to 10,736 kWh per person in 2026, reflecting a minor increment of 71 kWh per person. Despite the small change, this growth suggests an increased demand for electricity, potentially driven by economic factors and increased electrification. Furthermore, the progression in low-carbon electricity is promising, with the latest numbers showing an increase of 94 kWh per person from the previous year, indicating positive steps towards a greener energy grid.

Suggestions

To further enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Maryland could consider expanding its nuclear energy capacity. With nuclear providing a substantial portion of Maryland's current low-carbon electricity, increasing its scale could significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Lessons can also be gleaned from regions that are successfully leveraging solar energy. For instance, states like Nevada and countries like Chile have achieved noteworthy solar generation, providing a model for Maryland to boost its solar infrastructure. Additionally, considering the success of states like South Dakota and countries like Denmark in wind energy, Maryland could explore expanding its wind power sector as a supplementary strategy to nuclear and solar, ensuring a well-rounded approach to sustainable electricity.

History

Historically, the journey of low-carbon electricity generation in Maryland has seen gradual development. In 2024, there was a minor reduction in nuclear electricity output by 0.3 TWh, which fortunately saw a rebound with incremental increases in the following years. Similarly, wind energy has shown consistent but small growth, gaining an additional 0.1 TWh each year since 2024. However, hydropower has seen a slight decline each year, which could suggest potential areas for reassessment or upgrade. Despite small fluctuations, the focus on increasing nuclear and wind contributions signifies Maryland's dedication to advancing its clean energy commitments over recent years.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.