If Maryland wants to lead in AI and quantum, it must lead in clean energy, too - Maryland Matters

Artificial intelligence and quantum computing are the industries to tomrrow -- with a heavy demand on power grid of today. Which is why the state needs to invest in renewable energy, the authors write. (Photo by Marga Buschbell-Steeger/Getty Images) Maryland is making bold moves. With new investments pouring into artificial intelligence and  quantum technology research, our state is positioning itself as a national leader in the industries of  tomorrow. This is an exciting and necessary step — these technologies will shape the next generation  of health care, national security, finance and countless other fields. But as we chart this path toward a  more innovative future, it’s critical that we don’t leave one essential pillar behind: clean energy and  energy storage. For Maryland to be a hub in AI technology, it must also be a leader in the energy systems that will  power it. The reason is both practical and moral. AI data centers, high-performance quantum  computers and advanced manufacturing hubs consume staggering amounts of electricity. As AI models grow larger and more powerful, and as quantum computers begin moving from research labs  into operational facilities, their energy needs will only surge. Without a robust, sustainable energy  infrastructure, Maryland risks creating an innovation ecosystem that is ultimately unsustainable. Clean energy isn’t just about climate commitments —it’s about economic resilience, energy  independence and long-term competitiveness. States that lead in renewable energy and energy storage  technologies will be the states that attract future-focused industries. Already, the Department of  Energy (DOE) has highlighted energy storage as a key enabler of grid reliability and economic growth. Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@marylandmatters.org. We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from public officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines.

The Energy Storage Grand Challenge (ESGC) focuses resources from across the DOE to create a  comprehensive program to accelerate the development, commercialization and utilization of next-generation energy storage technologies and sustain American global leadership in energy storage.  Therefore, enhanced efforts are required to transition technology from the lab to the marketplace and  to facilitate manufacturing at scale. Similarly, the DOE Long Duration Storage Shot (LDS) aims to  reduce storage costs by 90% for systems that deliver 10+ hours of electricity within the decade. Maryland has made admirable progress in clean energy, with many projects underway and aggressive  climate targets on the books. But to truly match its ambitions in AI and quantum, the state must equally  prioritize research and development in advanced energy storage, grid modernization, and clean  generation technologies. Public universities, national labs, and private companies need support to  pioneer new battery chemistries, scalable grid storage solutions and AI-driven grid optimization tools. Imagine a Maryland where AI breakthroughs help predict energy demand spikes, where quantum  computers model new solar cell materials, and where locally developed long-duration energy storage  systems keep our power grid clean, stable, and resilient — even in the face of rising demand. This  isn’t a distant fantasy. It’s a future we can build, but only if we invest wisely today. Maryland has seen significant successes in clean energy technology, particularly in the battery and  solar sectors. Companies like Saft and Ion Storage Systems are leading innovators in battery technology. Solar power is the state’s largest renewable energy source, with a significant installed  capacity. By the end of 2024, Maryland had installed 1,750 megawatts of solar power, making it the  largest source of renewable energy. Similarly, the POWER Act, set a target for Maryland to generate  8.5 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2031. To date, the offshore wind supply chain has brought over $815 millionin investments to the state, which  includes millions of dollars to redevelop Baltimore County’s industrial waterfront for offshore-wind steel manufacturing and component staging, a high-voltage cable manufacturing facility in Baltimore  City, an additional $25 million in public funding to strengthen the state’s union workforce, and $11 million toward  environmental research through the University of Maryland. It would be shortsighted to invest heavily in energy-intensive technologies without ensuring the  sustainability of the energy systems that support them. Maryland has the chance to be a model for how  to do both — to be a state where cutting-edge tech doesn’t just consume resources, but actively drives  cleaner, smarter, and fairer energy solutions. Even in times of fiscal and budgetary challenges,  the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute (MEI2) and the Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator  (MEIA) continue to play a key role in supporting new clean energy technologies, fostering an energy  innovation ecosystem that has launched 66 companies. In the race for the future, it won’t be enough to lead in AI or quantum alone. The true leaders will  understand how deeply technology and energy are intertwined and build their innovation economies  with that in mind. Maryland can — and should — be one of them. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our website. AP and Getty images may not be republished. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of any other photos and graphics. Victor Der is the advisory board chair to the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute. He is a retired acting assistant secretary of the Department of Energy, general manager for the Americas at the Global CCS Institute and an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering. Catherine Stephens is the research/communications/program manager of the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute. Previously, she was senior program specialist at the U.S.

Global Climate Research Program and U.S. CLIVAR Project Office. Eric Wachsman is the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute's director, and a Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland. He is past president of the Electrochemical Society and has more than 300 scientific publications and 40 patents; to date four energy companies have been founded based on these technologies. Maryland Matters is a trusted nonprofit and nonpartisan news site. We are not the arm of a profit-seeking corporation. Nor do we have a paywall — we want to keep our work open to as many people as possible. So we rely on the generosity of individuals and foundations to fund our work. Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our website. (See full republishing guidelines.