Updates from District 7

Good evening,

I hope this message finds you well. As hard as it is to believe, summer is already drawing to a close. For our farmers, fishermen, and others whose livelihoods depend on the season, I hope it has been a successful one.

For Marylanders fortunate enough to spend these months at home with their children, I hope you’ve made lasting memories to carry you through the year. With many students heading back to school in just under a week, I hope this has been a season of family connection, and growth.

This week’s newsletter includes a variety of resources for both individuals and businesses to help navigate the seasonal transition and prepare for back-to-school needs. Congratulations to Eastern Technical High School, voted by U.S. News as the number one school in Maryland. Hereford High School ranked 26 and Dulaney High School came in at 36 on the list of top 50 schools in Maryland. A sincere congratulations goes out to the families, students and staff members, who work tirelessly to ensure this success.

In recent months, I’ve heard from many community members about the challenges of Maryland’s rising cost of living. In response, I've compiled resources including regional job openings, youth opportunities, and programs in Baltimore and Harford Counties for those seeking employment, job training, or recreation. If the message is clipped, please be sure to download the full version so you don’t miss anything.

USDA Grant Opportunity for Fishermen

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a major investment to support Maryland’s seafood industry and fight the spread of invasive blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay.

On August 6, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, joined by Representative Andy Harris, unveiled $6 million in grant funding through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program to help seafood processors modernize operations and expand capacity for processing wild-caught catfish. In addition, a $2 million pilot program, launched in partnership with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, will purchase Chesapeake Bay blue catfish for distribution through food banks, supporting local processors while removing a destructive invasive species from the Bay.

The effort strengthens rural economies, supports watermen, and provides nutritious protein to Maryland families in need. Eligible applicants can apply for grants ranging from $250,000 to $1 million through October 6, 2025, at Grants.gov.

Energy in the News:

This week, we saw the notification from BGE that there was a transmission constraint that put the energy in Maryland at risk. It's no secret that Maryland requires more energy generation and transmission in order to meet the growth that the state has had over the last several years. In response to the notification about BGE's transmission constraint, my Communications Director asked and received answers to these poignant questions about this system outage:

• Do you know the cause of the risk of outage?
• The cause of the event is still under investigation.
• If you're able to explain what a transmission constraint is, I think that would be helpful, in the event that constituents reach out. 
• A transmission constraint refers to a limitation or bottleneck in the electric power transmission system that restricts the flow of electricity across certain parts of the grid. 
• For customers who did participate in the PeakRewards and Connected Rewards cycling events to reduce loads, how much of a credit/savings was applied to those individuals' accounts, if you can share?
• Customers enrolled in BGE’s PeakRewards program receive summer bill credits based on their selected cycling participation level. Customers are enrolled in 50%, 75%, and 100% cycling and receive $50, $75, or $100, respectively, per enrolled device. These credits are distributed in four monthly installments June through September, resulting in a monthly bill credit of $12.50, $18.75, or $25.00.
• Customers participating in BGE’s Connected Rewards program receive a one-time $50 prepaid card for each eligible smart thermostat enrolled. Additionally, an annual $50 prepaid card is awarded for each enrolled thermostat at the end of the summer season, provided the customer remains actively enrolled throughout the program period.
• Did PJM's voltage reduction impact all 13 states and Washington D.C., or just Maryland?
• The PJM voltage reduction only customers in the BGE Service Territory.
• How did you determine to interrupt service in Howard County? 
• When customers need to be interrupted, the objective is to disrupt the least number of customers in order to mitigate the emergent issue. BGE worked in collaboration with PJM and Exelon's Transmission System Operators to minimize the amount of customer interruptions to 4,000 customers in Howard County based on transmission system constraints.

Have you enrolled in your energy company's rewards program? If so, is the benefit to your bill equal to the sacrifice made in minimizing your use of energy?

On Friday, August 15, Governor Wes Moore stated that he is "committed" to nuclear, which aligns with President Trump's Executive Order. I’ve long championed nuclear power as a way to strengthen Maryland’s energy supply and keep costs stable for working families and those on fixed incomes. Too often, I hear from residents who fall just above the low-income threshold- people who don’t qualify for assistance, yet are hit hardest by tax hikes, new fees, and rising energy costs.

With X-energy expanding in Maryland and the potential Calvert Cliffs expansion on the horizon, we have an opportunity to boost energy production, create honest, well-paying jobs, and secure our state’s energy future. This is a win for reliability, economic growth, and the Maryland families who keep our state moving.

Maryland’s Energy Administration is offering funding through the Maryland Energy Storage Income Tax Credit Program. The Residential and Commercial Energy Storage Grant Program was created to encourage the installation of energy storage systems in homes and businesses. Energy storage helps improve grid reliability, supports renewable energy use, and can lower energy costs by storing power for use during peak demand. The program is open to both residential and commercial applicants, with credits available on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is exhausted. For details on eligibility, benefits, and how to apply, visit the Maryland Energy Administration’s website at energy.maryland.gov.

Tips for Saving Money on Energy (from the Office of Home Energy Projects)

The Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) has shared practical tips to help Marylanders cut down on heating, cooling, and household energy costs. In warmer months, set your thermostat no lower than 78 degrees and close curtains during the day to keep heat out- while in winter, open them to let sunlight in. Check for and seal energy leaks, insulate your attic and walls, and maintain your heating and cooling equipment with regular filter changes. For heating, set your thermostat between 65–70 degrees during the day and 58–60 degrees at night or when you’re away for more than a few hours. Wearing sweaters, hats, and socks can help retain body heat. Closing doors to unused rooms, covering windows with plastic, and setting your water heater to 120 degrees are also easy ways to save.

OHEP also offers savings tips for other areas of the home. Use cold water for laundry rinses, wash full loads, and clean the dryer lint vent after each use. In the kitchen, use smaller appliances like crockpots or microwaves for small meals, turn off the oven a few minutes early, and avoid pre-rinsing dishes in hot water before loading the dishwasher. Keep refrigerators at 38–40 degrees and freezers at 5 degrees, open doors only when needed, and clean dust from coils to improve efficiency. Around the home, switch to compact fluorescent bulbs, turn off electronics when not in use, and consider motion detectors or timers for lights. In the bathroom, shorter showers, turning off water when not in use, and fixing leaky faucets promptly can also help reduce utility costs.

Knowledge is key! Here is a breakdown of typical wattage for your appliances so that you can make sensible choices that work for you, in determining what to reduce:

Energy Relief - All Customers Receive Automatically through Legislation:

In accordance with the passage of the 2025 Next Generation Energy Act (Senate Bill 937 /House Bill 1035), Maryland residents may see a credit on their electric bill through the Legislative Energy Relief Refund program. The refund will be applied in two phases, August 2025 and January or February 2026.

The credit amount will be based on each customer’s electricity usage over the past year. On average, residential customers may receive about $80 in total, though the amount will vary by usage and utility service area.

To be eligible for the first round of refunds, customers must have had an active residential electric account as of June 1, 2025, recorded usage between April 2024 and March 2025, and still be active when the refund is applied.

This is a one-time state-directed refund managed by the Public Service Commission. While it is definitely not nearly enough, I hope it offers some relief when you receive it. Please continue to monitor communications from your utility provider for further updates.

Energy Relief - One time relief for customers in arrears:

On July 1, 2025, Maryland has launched a $19 million Customer Relief Fund to help low- and middle-income families with rising energy bills. The one-time assistance will be distributed by local nonprofits in BGE, Pepco, and Delmarva Power areas to support those most affected by higher energy costs.

Good luck to all the teachers, staff and students in Baltimore County Public Schools, Harford County Public Schools and to those returning in the private school sector!

I hope this school year is productive and rewarding.

Best wishes to all the teachers, staff, and students beginning the new school year in Baltimore County Public Schools, Harford County Public Schools, and throughout the private school community!

I hope the year ahead is both productive and rewarding.

To the teachers, staff, parents, and students from Baltimore and Harford Counties who live or work in Legislative District 7, whether you want to highlight something positive happening in our schools or share a concern, please don’t hesitate to contact my office. Your input is important to me.



You can reach me at jb.jennings@senate.maryland.gov.

Military Opportunities:

Interested in giving back to your community, learning valuable skills, and seeing the world? Consider volunteering to serve your country. Service is a great way to instill discipline, builds lifelong friendships, and strengthens both individuals and communities. It’s an opportunity to gain hands-on training, leadership experience, and the pride that comes from being part of something greater than yourself.

When we serve, we grow. When we work hard, we create stronger families, stronger communities, and a stronger America. Check out the links below to learn more.

Navy

Army

National Guard

Marines

Coast Guard

Airforce

Space Force

Food Trucks:

EVERY TUESDAY:

White Marsh Volunteer Fire Company 10331 Philadelphia Rd, White Marsh, MD 21162 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

FIRST TUESDAY OF MONTH:

Abingdon Fire Company 3306 Abingdon Road, Abingdon, MD 21009 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

EVERY WEDNESDAY:

Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company

3825 Federal Hill Road, Jarrettsville, MD 21084

4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

EVERY WEDNESDAY:

Long Green Volunteer Fire Company

4506 Long Green Rd, Glen Arm, MD 21057

4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

EVERY THURSDAY:

Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co. 2201 Carrs Mill Road, Fallston, Maryland 21047

4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Baltimore County

Job Seekers:

If you live in Baltimore County and you're job seeking, the Baltimore County Department of Economic and Workforce Development has a listing of businesses that are hiring in the County. You can also check here for information on Maryland's vocational landscape, resume building help, and opportunities.

Utilize the following link for a list of job openings, within Baltimore County Government. As a reminder, counties are using their budgets, not the budget of the state.

Attention Parents:

After more than a year-long break, the Baltimore County Youth Connection Newsletter is back in action. Your engagement in your child's life is critical for their success.

Business Owners:

Baltimore County Department of Economic and Workforce Development has robust services available for business owners. If you are interested in starting a business in Baltimore County, please see the resources available here.



You can add your employment opportunity to Maryland's Workforce Exchange here.

Volunteer:

Volunteer Opportunities | Baltimore County Government

Volunteer Firefighters of Baltimore County | BCVFA

CCBC's LEAP Program

If you're 18-24, Baltimore County has a program called The CCBC Learn, Earn, Achieve, and Progress (LEAP) Program. LEAP helps out-of-school young adults build academic skills, earn a GED or Maryland high school diploma, gain industry-recognized certifications, and acquire work experience. Through education, training, and career preparation, LEAP equips participants with the tools for entry-level employment and long-term success.

I hope you're having a safe week during this hot summer. My office remains ready to serve my constituents, should a need arise. Not sure if you reside in Legislative District 7? Check it out here: Members - Find My Representatives. Navigate to Look Up, and type in your address to see who represents your district and their legislation. Feel free to email me at jb.jennings@senate.maryland.gov. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or X.

Best regards,



Senator J.B. Jennings