Baltimore County Councilman Pushes Local Energy Purchasing Plan

Councilman Julian Jones wants to give Baltimore County more control over energy costs and sources.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:04am

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Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones is proposing that the county opt out of Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) and develop a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program to allow the county to purchase energy from local sources, which he argues could help lower rising energy bills for residents.

Why it matters

Jones believes increased competition through a CCA program could help reduce energy costs for Baltimore County residents, who have seen their energy bills rise in recent years. Currently, only Montgomery County has legislative approval to pilot a CCA program in Maryland.

The details

Jones spoke about the proposal on a local radio show, arguing that a CCA program would allow Baltimore County to 'take control of where we buy it and who we buy it from.' He said the county could attract companies to build local solar facilities if it committed to purchasing a certain amount of energy from them.

  • On March 13, 2026, Councilman Jones discussed the CCA proposal on a local radio show.

The players

Julian Jones

A Baltimore County Councilman who is proposing that the county develop a Community Choice Aggregation program to give it more control over energy purchasing and sources.

Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE)

The current energy provider for Baltimore County, which Councilman Jones wants the county to opt out of in order to pursue a CCA program.

Montgomery County

The only county in Maryland that currently has legislative approval to pilot a CCA program, which Baltimore County is looking to emulate.

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What they’re saying

“We can lower our energy costs in Baltimore County by taking control of where we buy it and who we buy it from.”

— Julian Jones, Baltimore County Councilman (WBAL)

“We can have local generation right here in Baltimore County. There will be companies that will come in if we decide that we would purchase so much energy from them, and they would build solar facilities.”

— Julian Jones, Baltimore County Councilman (WBAL)

What’s next

The Maryland General Assembly would need to give Baltimore County legislative approval to develop a CCA program, similar to what Montgomery County has received.

The takeaway

Councilman Jones' proposal highlights growing interest among local governments to take more control over their energy sources and costs, potentially by opting out of traditional utility providers in favor of community-based energy purchasing programs.