6-1-12: The Future of Steelmaking in Baltimore County

RG Steel, the company that runs the steel mill at Sparrows Point, is filing for bankruptcy. The plant is idle, and layoffs may be on the way. We’ll talk to a reporter and a union local president about the prospects for a new owner, and talk to people from the community about the toll of years of instability at Sparrows Point.

3-14-12: The State of the Shale in Our State

There are more than a dozen bills before the Maryland legislature dealing with the possibility of drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale. We talk with Senator Brian Frosh, who’s proposing several of the measures, and with Drew Cobbs of the Maryland Petroleum Council, about how they could affect the future of drilling in the state.

3-6-12: BGE’s Exelon Adventure

The Public Service Commission has approved the proposed Constellation/Exelon merger, with conditions. Forty of them. What are they? And what do they mean for consumers and investors? We’ll ask Maryland People’s Counsel Paula Carmody and Morningstar utilities analyst Travis Miller.

1-18-12: Crowdsourcing Solar Power

A group of neighbors in University Park, Maryland has come up with a new business model for crowdsourcing solar energy. The prototype is taking off around the state–and gathering interest around the country.

1-17-12: Bats vs. Wind Turbines

Wind energy is on the agenda for the General Assembly session. But what happens to birds and bats when wind farms pop up in their natural habitat?

12-19-11: An Unlikely Coalition

Governor O’Malley is expected to propose another bill that would incentivize the creation of a wind farm off the coast of Ocean City. It’s created an unlikely coalition that includes both environmentalists and organized labor leaders.

10-25-11: Gas and Electric, Mergers and Acquisitions

Maryland-based Constellation Energy, the parent company of Baltimore Gas and Electric, wants to merge with Chicago-based Exelon. There are many stakeholders, with many demands. We’ll learn more from Scott Dance, who’s been covering the issue for the Baltimore Business Journal.

9-6-11: Disasterocalypse

What a week. Today we look back at the hurricane and earthquake that struck Maryland the week before last, and Baltimore Gas and Electric spokesman Rob Gould addresses criticism of the utility’s effort to restore power to over 750,000 of its customers.

7-8-11: Electric Car Industry Sparking a Profit?

With the arrival of the electric car comes other needs – a place to plug it in, and activities to do while the vehicle charges. Public charging stations may have to figure out ways to charge for the electricity. That makes this a field perfect for innovation…and this morning, we look at the ways Maryland entrepreneurs could profit from the emerging industry.

6-3-11: A Token for a Buck

A look at the tokens and tickets that were used as forms of agricultural currency to pay those who picked and canned produce in Maryland.