Home / Environment / Maryland Secures $340M Deal to Clean Up Susquehanna River and Renew Dam's License
Maryland Secures $340M Deal to Clean Up Susquehanna River and Renew Dam's License
2 Oct
Summary
- $340M deal to reduce pollution in Susquehanna River
- 50-year license granted to operate Conowingo Dam's hydroelectric facility
- Agreement includes funding for water quality, trash removal, and environmental initiatives
On October 2, 2025, Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced a landmark $340 million agreement with Constellation Energy to address pollution issues stemming from the Conowingo Dam on the Susquehanna River. The deal clears the way for the dam's hydroelectric facility, the state's largest source of renewable energy, to receive a 50-year operating license.
The comprehensive agreement includes funding for a range of water quality initiatives, such as improved fish and eel passages, a new freshwater mussel hatchery, and management of invasive species. It also allocates resources for trash and debris removal, as well as a study on the feasibility of dredging sediment trapped behind the dam.
This settlement puts an end to a years-long dispute over who should be responsible for mitigating the pollution that gets released downstream from the dam during storms, eventually making its way into the Chesapeake Bay. The previous attempt in 2019 to forge a $230 million deal was met with legal challenges, but the new agreement has the support of environmental advocacy groups.
"This agreement will lead to real improvements in water quality in the biggest tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, while securing the future of one of our state's largest clean energy producers," said Governor Moore. The deal is seen as a win-win for the environment and energy production in Maryland.
