This past week, Governor Wes Moore announced the PJM price cap saved customers $13.3 billion in electricity costs, he slammed Trump for a primetime address on election denial, announced $1 billion for affordable rental housing construction, put $20 million toward public boating and safety projects, and Sinclair’s David Smith threatened to sue him.
Governor Moore announces PJM price cap saved customers $13.3 billion in electricity costs
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced this week that a regional electricity price cap has saved utility customers $13.3 billion in projected energy costs across a 13-state territory.
The savings come from the PJM Interconnection capacity auction results for the 2028-2029 period. PJM, the regional grid operator, capped capacity market prices at an administrative limit of $325 per megawatt-day. Without the cap, regional ratepayers would have faced billions of dollars in additional charges, which are ultimately passed down to consumer utility bills, state officials said.
Moore had previously joined a coalition of governors from the PJM region to advocate for the price cap, citing concerns over rising energy costs driven in part by rapid data center expansion.
In a statement, Moore said his administration refused to let corporations pad their pockets while Marylanders shoulder the cost with no return on investment. He added that the savings are a direct result of aggressive actions to make energy more affordable for working families.
Gov. Moore Slammed Trump For Election Denial
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is speaking out against President Donald Trump ahead of his scheduled primetime speech Thursday night, reportedly focused on his repeated false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.
“This is what losers do. They complain about the rules, and then they slam the table,” Moore, who has publicly clashed with the president over a host of issues, told theGrio in a phone interview on Tuesday about Trump’s expected primetime remarks.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore made it clear Tuesday that Georgia is a top priority for national Democrats.
Moore spoke at the opening of a Democratic field office in East Point on the same day speculation swirled in Washington that President Donald Trump planned a primetime speech that could again falsely allege that the 2020 election in Georgia was stolen.
“(Republicans) should be embarrassed,” Moore told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an interview. “And every one of them should be asked the question every single day: ‘Do you stand by this? Is this how the president should be spending his time?’ I don’t know how you defend this again and again.”
Gov. Moore Announced $1B For Affordable Rental Housing Construction
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is turning his focus to affordable housing once again. On Tuesday, he announced that more than $1 billion was awarded for rental housing construction across the state.
The funds were awarded through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, which awarded low-income housing tax credits and provided financing through rental housing funds and other programs to create or preserve 3,025 affordable units across the state.
“Access to affordable housing is one of the biggest barriers to long term success and security of Marylanders across our state,” said Moore. “Our administration is heavily investing and leveraging every tool available to build more homes, expand rental housing options and lower the cost of accessible, safe and quality housing for hardworking Marylanders.”
Gov. Moore Put $20M Toward Public Boating And Safety Projects
Gov. Wes Moore announced that Maryland will provide $20 million in funding during Fiscal Year 2027 for public boating projects across the state, including several on the Eastern Shore.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will distribute $13 million through the Waterway Improvement Fund and an additional $7 million in General Obligation Bond funding for 24 projects that support public boating access, navigable waterways, boating safety and related infrastructure.
“Boating is an integral aspect of Maryland’s cultural identity that supports our seafood and tourism economies,” said Gov. Moore. “These major investments provide resources to strengthen our boating infrastructure, expand recreational access, and ensure the longevity of our waterways for Marylanders to enjoy the Chesapeake Bay for generations to come.”
Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Josh Kurtz said the Waterway Improvement Fund has played a key role in improving boating access and safety across the state. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, boating generates more than $4 billion in economic activity each year and supports about 17,000 jobs statewide.
Sinclair’s David Smith Threatens To Sue Gov. Wes Moore
David Smith, the owner of The Baltimore Sun and executive chairman of Sinclair Broadcast Group, has threatened to sue Maryland Gov. Wes Moore over comments he made in a television interview last month, escalating a feud between the two camps.
In the June 16 MS NOW interview, Moore, a Democrat, said Smith “was invested in by Jeffrey Epstein,” the New York financier whom federal prosecutors charged in 2019 with sex trafficking of minors. Epstein died by suicide in jail later that year, and the investigation into his activities and connections has become a focal point for Republicans and Democrats.
An attorney for Smith sent Moore and his communications staff a letter on June 29 demanding that Moore retract his statement and apologize, as Smith had “no relationship with … Epstein, much less an investment relationship,” according to a copy reviewed by The Banner. The letter went on to say that Smith reserved the right to sue Moore for defamation.
Investment firms that Epstein controlled purchased shares of Sinclair Broadcast Group at various points, according to records released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
In a response letter dated July 14, attorneys for Moore told Smith that the governor would continue to exercise his First Amendment rights to “make his views known to constituents.”
“It is absolutely true that Jeffrey Epstein invested in Mr. Smith’s business, namely in Sinclair Broadcast Group,” Moore attorney Joseph Sandler wrote.
Contact: Carter Elliott, IV [email protected]