Over the past year, from September 2024 to August 2025, Maryland's electricity consumption has depended significantly on net imports, accounting for more than 41% of total electricity. The state sources almost a third of its electricity from low-carbon, clean energy sources. Within this category, nuclear energy dominates, contributing nearly a quarter of the state's total electricity, while hydropower, solar, and wind together generate approximately 6.6%. On the other hand, fossil fuels contribute slightly more than a quarter of the electricity, driven mostly by gas, which accounts for about 24%, and to a lesser extent by coal, which provides just under 4%.
Data sources used on this page include EIA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Maryland?
In recent years, electricity consumption in Maryland has declined, with the latest figures showing an average of 9,922 kWh per person, a noticeable decrease from the peak of 12,868 kWh per person in 2005. This represents a reduction of almost 3,000 kWh per person. Low-carbon electricity generation has also seen a downward trend. In 2025, it stands at 2,959 kWh per person, down from the previous record of 3,195 kWh per person in 2018. Despite reductions in both overall and low-carbon electricity consumption, Maryland has immense potential to enhance its energy profile by focusing on expanding its current low-carbon resources.
Suggestions
To boost Maryland's low-carbon energy generation, expanding the state's existing nuclear capacity is a logical step given its significant contribution to the energy mix. Maryland could model some of its clean energy strategies on successful regions harnessing substantial low-carbon power. For instance, France and Slovakia generate over two-thirds of their electricity from nuclear energy, demonstrating the sheer potential of nuclear power. Meanwhile, states like Iowa and South Dakota, where wind power contributes a significant portion of electricity, illustrate the enormous potential of wind energy. Maryland should also draw inspiration from solar success stories, like Lebanon and Nevada, where solar power forms a substantial part of the energy mix.
History
Looking back at Maryland's low-carbon electricity history, it's notable that nuclear power has experienced both fluctuations and additions, though with concerns in certain periods. The early 2000s saw downs and ups in nuclear electricity generation, with a decrease of nearly 1 TWh in 2006, followed by incremental recoveries in subsequent years. However, by the early 2010s, nuclear generation was overshadowed by periodic reductions before bouncing back with improvements in the late 2010s. In parallel, hydropower also witnessed variances, gaining and losing nearly 1 TWh on several occasions. A strategic focus on these stable low-carbon resources, especially nuclear energy, could propel Maryland toward a more sustainable and robust electricity generation system.
