Constellation Energy has committed to donate about 300 acres of land near its 570.15 MW Conowingo hydro project to the state of Maryland, to support conservation of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and enhance public access to local, state and national park systems.
The land donation is a collaborative effort between Constellation; the state; and local, county and state conservation and environmental agencies and non-profit organizations, including the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Park Service, Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway, Inc., Port Deposit, Havre de Grace, the Harford Land Trust, Cecil Land Trust and the Chesapeake Conservancy.
The property is near the Conowingo Dam, which impounds water for a powerhouse that contains 11 turbine-generator units that produce the majority of Maryland’s in-state renewable energy.
The property will become part of local, state and national park systems and conservation projects consisting of parks, trails and other public lands in the Chesapeake Bay watershed that bring national and international attention to the bay’s natural, cultural, historical and recreational resources. The donated land will be permanently preserved for conservation purposes for the benefit of the public. Such protection will promote healthy ecosystems and habitats, bolster environmental stewardship and literacy and support climate resiliency, according to a release.
“This donation builds on Constellation’s ongoing sustainability leadership, including advancing environmental stewardship, protecting local wildlife, and supporting local recreational opportunities,” said Kathleen Barrón, Constellation’s chief strategy officer. “As a Maryland company and as owner and operator of the Conowingo Dam, the state’s largest source of renewable energy, Constellation’s donation will complement our existing investments in environmental programs and projects that directly benefit water quality, aquatic life and recreational resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, particularly locally here along the banks of the Lower Susquehanna.”
Between Conowingo Dam on the Susquehanna River in Darlington, the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Station in Lusby and three wind projects in Garrett and Alleghany Counties, Constellation produces over 90% of Maryland’s in-state clean, zero-emission electric generation, according to a release. Constellation is investing $700 million in environmental programs and projects that benefit water quality, aquatic life and recreational resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, particularly along the banks of the Lower Susquehanna.
Constellation Energy operates a fleet of nuclear, hydro, wind and solar facilities with a total capacity of more than 32,400 MW and annual output that is nearly 90% carbon-free. The company has set a goal to achieve 100% carbon-free power generation by 2040 by leveraging innovative technology and enhancing its mix of hydro, wind and solar resources paired with the largest nuclear fleet in the U.S.
