Constellation Energy Invests $340 Million in Water Quality Improvements at Maryland's Conowingo Dam

Sun Apr 12 2026 00:05:46 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The investment aims to enhance water quality flowing into the Chesapeake Bay while ensuring the continued operation of the Conowingo Dam’s hydroelectric facility.

Constellation Energy has committed over $340 million to tackle water quality issues at the Conowingo Dam in Maryland, a significant source of renewable energy for the state. The funding is part of a larger agreement aimed at enhancing the health of the Chesapeake Bay and mitigating sediment pollution. This move follows years of legal challenges and negotiations surrounding the dam’s environmental impact.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Constellation Energy has announced a substantial investment of over $340 million to enhance water quality at Maryland’s Conowingo Dam. This dam discharges into the Susquehanna River, which subsequently flows into the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the nation. This deal is pivotal as it not only clears the path for the re-licensing of the dam's hydroelectric facility but also ensures the future operation of one of Maryland's main renewable energy sources.

Governor Wes Moore remarked, 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. The agreement signals an end to ongoing disputes regarding pollution emanating from the dam and its effects on the downstream ecosystem.

The Maryland Department of the Environment had initially certified the Conowingo Dam in 2018. However, legal tussles prompted a waiver of that certification in 2019, mandating Constellation Energy to invest $230 million in improvements. Recently, environmental groups challenged the facility's 50-year federal license, asserting that it should include clearer measures for pollution mitigation.

In 2022, an appeals court sided with these environmentalists, leading to this renewed commitment by Constellation. The funds from this agreement are directed toward essential environmental initiatives, including $88 million for pollution reduction and resilience projects such as shoreline restoration and fish passage enhancements, and an additional $78 million for trash and debris removal, bolstering existing efforts which clear around 600 tons of debris each year.

The new funding will also facilitate the construction of a freshwater mussel hatchery and management of invasive species, alongside studies on the economic viability of dredging the dam to remove trapped sediment. The governor’s office plans to file a revised Water Quality Certification with federal authorities to facilitate the renewed licensing of the dam.

Today’s announcement marks 16 years of tremendous effort and perseverance by our organization to assure Conowingo Dam is relicensed with proper conditions that protect the health of the Lower Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay, stated Ted Evgeniadis, Executive Director of the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association.