Maryland
Maryland’s Sustainability Chief Reflects on a ‘Difficult’ Year of Legislative Setbacks – Inside Climate News
When Meghan Conklin became Maryland’s first-ever chief sustainability officer in 2024, the state seemed poised for rapid climate progress. With billions of dollars in federal funding available under the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), decision makers were preparing to meet statutory mandates to cut emissions 60 percent by 2031 and reach net zero by 2045.
But the political and economic terrain shifted fast. And implications have been dire.
This year, Maryland delayed its zero-emission vehicle mandates, softened building decarbonization rules, cracked open the door to new fossil gas plants and redirected clean energy funds to cover budget holes. All this came in the wake of the Trump administration’s aggressive moves to gut federal climate programs and freeze key grants.
A year after Inside Climate News last spoke with her, Conklin—who reports directly to Gov. Wes Moore and oversees interagency climate coordination—defended the administration’s approach, acknowledged tough tradeoffs and insisted the state has not backtracked on its long-term climate goals.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
AMAN AZHAR: How has your role changed since we spoke in March of last year?
MEGHAN CONKLIN: This has been a challenging year with the Trump administration’s continued attacks on energy, the environment and climate mandates. It was also a challenging legislative session in Maryland. But I feel we made progress towards our climate goals. I feel lucky to serve with a great team around me, including our secretaries of natural resources and the environment, and the Maryland Energy Administration.
AZHAR: Do you think your office now carries more authority over interagency climate decisions, or are you still building that internal leverage?
CONKLIN: I wouldn’t say authority. It’s a partnership. My approach is to work in tandem with other members of the cabinet and their agencies. I’m a member of the governor’s executive team, which helps me speak directly to the governor and some of his senior team. A key mechanism for our interagency coordination is the climate sub-cabinet, which I co-chair along with the Maryland Secretary of the Environment. I’ve been able to form strong relationships across agencies, helping them move forward.
AZHAR: Last year you said your main goal was to ensure Maryland meets its bold climate goals. A year later, do you still believe Maryland is on track?
CONKLIN: That’s still our main mission. But we face unprecedented federal challenges. President Trump’s budget proposes historic environmental cuts, and we’ve had a challenging legislative session. Still, Gov. Moore signed one of Maryland’s most comprehensive climate executive orders, establishing a climate sub-cabinet and requiring agencies to produce climate implementation plans. Those were completed on time, and we’ve made real progress, including $100 million in state funding—half for solar projects on state property, half for local clean energy initiatives.
AZHAR: This year’s General Assembly session saw clean car mandates delayed, the Better Buildings Act stalled and up to 10 new gas plants authorized. Advocates say Maryland is retreating on its climate commitments. Do you agree?
CONKLIN: Legislation rarely emerges exactly as proposed. There were some provisions in the energy package legislation on natural gas, driven by Maryland’s presiding officers, not our administration. Still, there were some important gains, including removing trash incineration from our renewable energy portfolio and reducing red tape around solar deployment. Overall, I believe some valuable progress was made despite compromises.
AZHAR: How does opening the door to new gas plants align with Maryland’s climate goals?
CONKLIN: The governor is committed to 100 percent clean electricity. Those gas provisions were not in his bill, which was the ENERGIZE Maryland Act. The administration is focused on clean energy, not just wind and solar, but all the other types of carbon-free electricity, like nuclear.
AZHAR: Environmental advocates said they felt blindsided by the gas and nuclear provisions, and that Maryland is opening doors to fossil fuels under the guise of reliability. Did you share these concerns?
CONKLIN: Advocates, including Maryland’s League of Conservation Voters, shifted their stance from opposition to neutrality because of the climate-positive elements we added to the energy package. Legislative process often involves difficult compromises, especially under challenging conditions like we have under the Trump administration. Even if it wasn’t ideal, we saw overall gains.
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AZHAR: One of your key roles is to help secure and track federal climate funding. Did state leadership anticipate funding upheavals and did your office prepare budget models?
CONKLIN: Gov. Moore anticipated a potential political shift months ahead. I lead our federal investment team, tracking federal funding closely. We’ve aggressively pursued IRA and Infrastructure Law funding and successfully defended some grants in court. For example, the $62 million that Maryland received under the Solar for All grant is now unfrozen as a result of litigation. We also secured $130 million under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants, and those are continuing as well. But challenges remain and litigation is ongoing.
AZHAR: Which specific climate programs are directly impacted by federal disruptions?
CONKLIN: Many, but notably our National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure funds have been frozen. We’re also very concerned about offshore wind projects. Maryland recently joined Massachusetts in suing over Trump’s permitting restrictions on offshore wind.
AZHAR: The state diverted money from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund into the general budget. Did you support that move?
CONKLIN: Gov. Moore faced an unprecedented budget crisis, forcing tough trade-offs. Still, $100 million of that went to climate programs. I don’t anticipate this becoming a regular occurrence.
AZHAR: Moore initially called climate action an “all-of-government priority.” But some advocates now say that economic pragmatism has taken over climate action. Has there been a recalibration?
CONKLIN: We’re committed to climate action. Protecting the climate and economy aren’t mutually exclusive. The energy legislation streamlined solar deployment in Maryland, which will help climate and economy, reflecting the governor’s continued commitment.
AZHAR: Were environmental justice reviews conducted for the delayed mandates, weakened standards or new gas projects?
CONKLIN: Environmental justice remains a priority. Post-session, we’re reviewing potential executive actions on climate and environmental justice issues. So stay tuned. It’s at the forefront of my mind.
AZHAR: Given the delays, diversions and shifting ground, does Maryland still have a credible claim to national climate leadership?
CONKLIN: We’re still among the leaders. I’ll soon meet with other states through the U.S. Climate Alliance. Despite that it was one of the most challenging sessions I’ve experienced, we continue making progress toward our goals.
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Aman Azhar
Reporter, Washington, D.C.
Aman Azhar is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist who covers environmental justice for Inside Climate News with focus on Baltimore-Maryland area. He has previously worked as a broadcast journalist and multimedia producer for the BBC World Service, VOA News and other international news organizations, reporting from London, Islamabad, the United Arab Emirates and New York. He holds a graduate degree in Anthropology of Media from University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and an MA in Political Science from the University of the Punjab, and is the recipient of the Chevening scholarship from the UK government and an academic scholarship for graduate studies from the Australian government.
Maryland
Flooding in western Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania leaves boy missing, schools and homes swamped
Flash floods sparked by heavy rain hit parts of Virginia, western Maryland and Pennsylvania on Tuesday, leaving a 12-year-old boy missing in Virginia and forcing elementary schools in rural Maryland to evacuate, authorities said.
Severe flooding has left parts of Meyersdale Borough in Somerset County underwater after heavy rains pounded the area on Tuesday.
In a message posted Tuesday night on social media, the Albemarle County Fire Rescue service in Virginia said county police had received a call late in the afternoon about a boy being swept away by a flood-swollen creek. The fire department said search efforts had to be put on hold after about three hours, “due to limited visibility in the overnight hours and the safety of all those involved.”
The fire and rescue service said the search would resume on Wednesday, and it warned residents not to “self-deploy” in attempt to find the missing child as conditions remained dangerous.
Another elementary school in the region was also evacuated, and students at a middle school were told to shelter in place for a while on Tuesday, according to the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services.
Homes flooded in southern Pennsylvania
Residents in low-lying areas of Meyersdale, near the Maryland border in Pennsylvania’s Somerset County, were ordered to evacuate Tuesday as the Casselman River rose precipitously.
“We are seeing flooding in the majority of the houses in town,” Meyersdale Mayor Shane Smith said, according to KDKA, CBS Pittsburgh. “Some even as high as the first floor. Roads throughout the area are being destroyed by the fast-moving water… This is some of the most severe flooding we’ve ever seen.”
Smith declared a state of emergency for Meyersdale. He said there were no reported injuries, and that both federal and state emergency management personnel were expected in the town on Wednesday to help coordinate the response.
There were also reports of flood and storm related road closures and some damage in Bedford and Campbell Counties in Virginia, and a hospital being partially flooded in eastern Tennessee, near the Virginia state line. Authorities said two women had to be rescued from an inundated vehicle on a washed out road in Bedford
Rural western Maryland schools forced to evacuate
About 100 miles north, in the far western corner of Maryland, the North Branch Potomac River and some tributaries burst their banks on Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of schools and businesses.
According to KDKA, about 150 students and 50 adults had to be evacuated from the Westernport Elementary School. The floodwaters rose so quickly and entered the building that brothers William and Quinton Wade were left trapped inside with dozens of others.
“Whenever we were going down to get in the boat, the first floor was flooded,” Quinton, a second-grader at the school, told KDKA.
“The first floor had been flooded all the way to the ceiling,” added William, who is in fourth grade.
“I didn’t get any call from the school. I didn’t know any plan. I didn’t know anything. So, my instinct was, get my kids,” the boys’ mother Alley Wade told KDKA. She said she rushed from her job to the school, but found the water too high for her to do anything, so she waited while the rescuers in boats saved her kids and dozens of others.
Alley Wade said she had never seen such severe flooding in their town.
“I have never. Now, I believe there was a bad flood in 1996, but I was 4,” she said.
While the Wades’ home was unscathed, some homes and businesses in Westernport were inundated Tuesday after hours of heavy rain.
In a statement released in the early Wednesday morning hours, Maryland Governor Wes Moore urged people in the affected region to “remain vigilant, heed warnings from local officials, and prioritize safety during this time,” adding: “If you don’t have to go out, please do not go out. Stay off the roads if possible and heed any evacuation orders.”
According to the governor’s office, parts of Allegany County had already seen at least 4.65 inches of rain in 24 hours, and more rain was expected into Wednesday morning.
The statement said the North Branch Potomac River in Cumberland was expected to peak at 22.6 feet Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, “which would mark the highest river crest since 1996.”
“We remain in close contact with local officials and continue to coordinate resources as the rain continues to fall,” Moore said in the statement.
The flooding comes on the heels of a new study by the climate science group World Weather Attribution, published this week, that found deadly storms that tore through eight U.S. states in the Midwest and South in the first week of April, killing at least 24 people, were made significantly worse by human-caused climate change.
The group said its analysis showed that human-caused global warming made the record-breaking downpours about 9% heavier than they would otherwise have been.
After losing its top four QBs from the 2024 season, Maryland football is going to have a new look to it come 2025. Billy Edwards Jr., the starter last season, is now at Wisconsin, and Maryland will likely either start UCLA transfer Justyn Martin or four-star freshman Malik Washington. Either way, there will be inexperience at the helm for the Terrapins.
Will Backus with CBS Sports ranked the ‘bleakest’ QB rooms in the Power Four Conferences, and Maryland came in with the fourth-worst QB room in the country. Only Wake Forest, Minnesota, and Oklahoma State came in lower than the Terrapins.
Former four-star prospect Justyn Martin transferred to Maryland in December after three seasons at UCLA. He appeared in five games with the Bruins, registering his first career start in 2024 when Ethan Garbers missed a game against Penn State due to injury. Martin completed 22 of his 30 passes for 167 yards and one touchdowns in the 27-11 loss, which is… fine. The real buzz-worthy piece here is Washington, the No. 54 overall prospect and No. 6 quarterback in the class of 2025. As with Cal, it’s hard to lean on a freshman, but there’s a chance Washington will take starting reps at some point.
– Will Backus (CBS Sports)
Maryland isn’t being picked by many people to be a very good team in 2025, but if the Terrapins could get better than average QB play, Maryland has a chance to win some games. The schedule is far from daunting and with Mike Locksley believing Washington is the future of the program, he might get his shot way earlier than some expected when he committed to the Terps.
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Commitment: Maryland ‘always felt like right place’ for 2026 ATH Zahir Cobb
Class of 2026 high-three-star athlete Zahir Cobb is staying local, as he committed to Maryland on Monday.
Cobb currently attends St. Albans School in Washington, D.C., which is approximately a 30-minute drive to the University of Maryland. College Park is also only about a 15-minute drive away from Cobb’s home.
He ranks as the No. 3 prospect in Washington, D.C. and the No. 23 athlete in the 2026 cycle.
There were many aspects about the Terrapins that drew Cobb to pledge to Maryland. In addition to it being his hometown program, he has built strong relationships with head coach Mike Locksley, co-defensive coordinator/associate head coach for defense/ cornerbacks coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim and the rest of the Terps’ staff. He believes in the staff’s vision for the future, and academics are also important to Cobb.
“Maryland always felt like the right place for me from the beginning,” Cobb said. “The staff believes in me, the program is on the rise and I want to be a part of what they’re building. It’s also a great school academically.”
Cobb wants to continue to build upon Maryland’s reputation of bringing in homegrown talent, and doesn’t want to follow players from the area who choose to go elsewhere for their college career.
“What stands out the most is how many great players grow up in the area and choose to play far from home,” he said. “(Maryland) has one of the best facilities and campuses, and their vision for the future is great. Our relationship and distance, and also their development of players in the league recently stands out a lot.”
Cobb shares a connection with Locksley (“Coach Locks”), who also grew up in the DMV area. The fact that Locksley recruits local players to build up Maryland’s program was an important factor to Cobb.
Meanwhile, Abdul-Rahim had a prior relationship with Cobb’s father, so there is strong trust between Cobb’s family and the staff. Cobb felt like a priority for the Terrapins.
“Coach Locks also grew up in the D.C./Maryland area, so we share the same views on certain things, which makes our relationship stronger,” Cobb said. “His belief in players and building in the area he is from is an example of who he is and I respect that.
“I’ve built a strong relationship with the entire staff, especially Aazaar (Abdul-Rahim), who knew my dad since they were young. He understands what my ceiling is and wants me to make the most of it and that stood out for me.”
Cobb was last in College Park for an unofficial visit in April. He was able to watch the Terps compete in a spring practice and it was during that trip where Cobb realized that Maryland was the place for him.
“My last visit was to a spring practice about a month ago,” Cobb noted. “Just being around the players and coaches, feeling the energy and seeing how they work helped me realize it was the place I wanted to be. The facilities, the culture, the family vibe — everything stood out.”
He will return to Maryland for his official visit from June 12 through June 14. Cobb previously had official visits set with Penn State, Virginia and Virginia Tech as well, but he will he canceling those trips.
In addition to the schools already mentioned, Cobb has received scholarship offers from Boston College, Indiana, South Carolina, West Virginia and others.
The 6-foot-3, 193-pound Cobb is a true athlete who could play multiple spots for Maryland, but he will most likely play on the defensive side of the ball as a defensive back. He expects to start out primarily as a cornerback, but also believes he will cross-train at nickel back and safety as well.
“They’re recruiting me at each position, and I’m most likely going to be working at each position until I step on campus, however, it’s more on the DB side as of now,” Cobb explained. “I’d describe my game as versatile, physical and a playmaker. I can move around, make plays on the ball and bring energy every snap.”
All in all, Cobb is excited about becoming a future Terrapin and thankful for the chance to join Maryland’s roster in 2026.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity,” Cobb said about committing to Maryland. “It’s bigger than football for me — it’s about family, legacy and proving that you can stay home and still chase greatness.”
With Cobb’s pledge, Maryland’s 2026 class grows to five total commitments as of press time.
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