Gov. Martin O’Malley of Maryland (@GovernorOMalley) has reached a settlement with the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), the Constellation Energy Group, and the Exelon Corporation on a proposed merger. This isn’t exactly a development that I was following in the negotiation process, but from what I understand, the Constellation-Exelon merger is huge news for the State of Maryland and a big political win for O’Malley. Some highlights from the merger include:

• an estimated 6,000 jobs created over the next decade (as opposed to roughly 2,440 in the initial proposal)
• a “four-fold increase over Exelon’s initial merger proposal, from $270 million to over $1 billion”
• 285-300 megawatts (MW) of increased energy generation (an exponential increase from 25 MW)
• doubling or nearly doubling both solar and wind energy capacity
• creation of an offshore wind development fund
• creation of Maryland’s first-ever animal-waste to energy facility
• an $100 credit to all BGE residential electricity rate-payers

The more and more I read about this merger, the more and more I love how the Governor has handled negotiations between the four parties to ensure that Maryland’s taxpaying citizens get the most benefit from the deal. I mean, the guy got Exelon to agree to quadruple its initial offer! This is how you govern, America. Governor Martin O’Malley: moving Maryland forward!

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