SALISBURY, MD – Wicomico County leaders and community members gathered for an energy forum to address the persistent and growing concerns over energy affordability and reliability, a critical issue impacting residents and businesses across the region. The forum, initiated by County Executive Julie Gerardano, aimed to foster a solution-oriented dialogue by bringing together industry experts and elected officials to confront the financial burdens associated with escalating energy prices.
County Executive Gerardano opened the Wicomico County Energy Solutions Summit and Forum by underscoring the widespread impact of rising energy costs. “Over the past several months, I have spent a lot of time out in our community talking with residents and business owners, seniors, working families, and people who are simply trying to make ends meet,” Gerardano stated. “And one issue continues to come up over and over again, and that is affordability, especially with the cost of energy.”
The county executive detailed the tangible effects of these rising costs on various segments of the population. “People are feeling it. They are opening their electric bills and wondering why they continue to climb,” she explained. “Seniors on fixed incomes are having to make difficult decisions about where their limited dollars go. Working families are watching more of their paycheck disappear into basic household expenses. And our small businesses are dealing with higher operating costs that ultimately affect their employees, their customers, and their ability to grow.” Gerardano emphasized the immediate and personal nature of these concerns, stating, “This isn’t an abstract policy discussion for the people we represent. This is about their monthly bills and their household budgets.”
A central objective of the forum, as articulated by Gerardano, was to transition from mere problem identification to the active pursuit of practical solutions. “I don’t want today to simply be about identifying problems. I want us talking solutions,” she declared. To guide this discussion, participants were prompted to consider critical questions, including: “What regulations and or mandates are driving costs?” and “What should Maryland be doing differently?” The forum also sought to address how to “increase generation and reliability” and “reduce our dependence on electricity generated outside Maryland.”
Crucially, the forum aimed to identify actionable steps for policymakers. Gerardano posed the overarching question: “And most importantly, what can policymakers do to provide meaningful long-term relief to the families and businesses paying these bills?” She stressed that for Marylanders, energy must be both “affordable and dependable.” The summit was designed to integrate diverse perspectives, featuring industry experts with deep knowledge of energy generation, utilities, infrastructure, and regulations, alongside state and local elected officials who understand the legislative and policy frameworks.
