Conduit Street Podcast
From the halls of the State House to the heart of county government, the Conduit Street Podcast breaks down the decisions shaping Marylanders’ daily lives. Produced by the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), this weekly podcast offers smart, accessible insights on the latest state and local policy — with counties always at the center.
Explore how legislation, executive actions, and agency decisions affect essential public services like education, infrastructure, public safety, health, and other core functions that matter most to Maryland residents. With special guests from across the state and the occasional world-famous dad joke, Conduit Street keeps you informed, engaged, and ready for what’s next.
Whether you’re a policymaker, a public servant, or just policy-curious, this is your front-row seat to Maryland’s political landscape.
Conduit Street Podcast
The Briefing Room Ep 1: Who Really Controls Maryland’s Energy?
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The Conduit Street Podcast is launching something new.
Introducing The Briefing Room, a new limited series designed to take a deeper dive into the complex policy issues shaping Maryland’s counties. In this first episode, host Dominic Butchko kicks off a multi-part series on energy policy, starting with the fundamentals: how the system works, who the key players are, and why it matters for local governments.
Joined by Maryland Energy Administration Director Kelly Speakes-Backman and Section Chief for Climate Programs and State Policy in Montgomery County, Garrett Fitzgerald, the conversation breaks down the often-overlooked structure of energy generation, transmission, and regulation, and unpacks the growing tension among affordability, reliability, and local priorities.
From rising energy costs to land use conflicts and the expanding role of data centers, this episode sets the stage for a deeper look at one of the most pressing policy areas facing counties today.
New episodes of our limited series, The Briefing Room, drop on Tuesdays.
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