Maryland storage awards: what landowners should ask next

Read the selection and its conditions together

The Maryland Public Service Commission selected Chalk Point, 400 MW in Prince George’s County, and Jade Meadow III, 40 MW in Garrett County, for conditional transmission-storage awards. The Commission says both must still apply for construction approval. It also expects a second-round application request by January 1, 2027.

For an owner, the useful distinction is between being selected for a revenue award and being authorized to build. Ask the developer to identify what its latest decision establishes. If it refers to another project, ask why that record matters to the property you are discussing.

Reference: Maryland PSC: October 1, 2026 conditional transmission-storage awards

Find out which storage route is being proposed

Maryland’s PSC resources distinguish transmission procurement from the state’s 150 MW goal for distribution-connected, front-of-the-meter storage. Distribution company plans have their own review track. A smaller connection to a local utility system is not automatically part of the same competition as a large transmission project.

Ask whether the battery would serve the grid through a separate connection or operate with an existing building’s electric service. Request the utility name and proposed connection point. If the explanation changes between conversations, have the developer clarify the current design before you compare offers.

Reference: Maryland: residential and commercial storage program

Ask what is ready and what is still being studied

A proposal should make the sequence understandable. Ask about the electrical application, site layout, land-use review and any procurement application. Identify which records already exist and which are only expected.

You do not need to interpret an engineering report alone. Ask the developer to explain its conclusion, its date and any conditions. A study that concerns a different site, connection or project size may not answer the question for your land.

• What is the project name and application reference?
• Which connection is being studied?
• Which decision is needed before construction?
• What might change the footprint or schedule?

Keep your reservation period understandable

If the developer needs an option before an award or approval, ask what work it can perform on your land during that period. Find out what you are paid, who can extend the option and what ends it. Identify any activities you must postpone while the land is held.

Ask how investigations are scheduled and how damage is handled. If a tenant, farm operator or neighbor uses an entrance, explain those rights before agreeing to entry. A possible future project does not make existing access arrangements disappear.

Your land payment is not a capacity-credit price

A project may receive payments for providing energy or grid services. Your compensation depends on the land agreement. Do not compare a project’s per-MW revenue figure directly with annual rent per acre; they describe different things.

Request a land-payment schedule with the reserved area, option period, operating start and any increases or extensions. Include access, restoration and removal responsibilities in the comparison. Ask what happens if the operator or project owner changes.

Send what you know about the property

Start with your contact details and the location. Include the present use, approximate available area and whether you are considering a lease, sale or only a discussion. Mention a received offer or application reference if you have one.

You can inquire without a completed electrical study or a state award. Sunland can review the starting information and may ask for more detail. We still need to establish property-specific suitability and commercial interest before there is a deal to consider.