Last week’s 5,000-gallon diesel spill in Baltimore’s Harbor East was quickly contained and is being cleaned up by emergency crews thanks to a well-coordinated response across the federal, state, and city government emergency management personnel. While relatively small in scale, it serves as a timely reminder of why Maryland’s proactive approach to clean energy and environmental protection is so important.

Environmental incidents, whether large or small, are often unpredictable. What we can control is how well we prepare for them and more importantly, how we reduce the risks in the first place.

Managing What We Can Control

The Harbor East spill originated from backup diesel generators for infrastructure that hospitals have historically used for patient safety. While we can’t eliminate every environmental risk, we can make smart choices about the technologies we rely on going forward.

That’s where Maryland’s recent investments in clean energy alternatives become especially relevant. Modern battery storage systems can provide the same reliable backup power without the risk of fuel spills or air pollution. When the 2025 legislature included provisions supporting battery storage procurement, they were investing in solutions that deliver reliability while reducing environmental risks.

Building Resilience for the Unexpected

Maryland’s comprehensive approach to clean energy is about meeting our climate goals and building resilience against both predictable and unpredictable challenges. Every solar installation, every electric vehicle charging station, and every energy storage system represents infrastructure that’s inherently safer for our communities and waterways.

We know that environmental incidents will happen. Equipment fails, accidents occur, and weather events test our systems. But we can choose technologies and policies that minimize these risks while still meeting our energy needs.

Small Steps, Big Impact

The swift, coordinated response to this week’s spill shows Maryland’s essential environmental cleanup systems working as designed. But the best environmental protection is often prevention.

As Maryland continues expanding clean energy options like solar, wind, and battery storage, we’re building an energy system that’s not only cleaner, but also more resilient against the unexpected events that will inevitably arise.

This week’s reminder was relatively small, but it reinforces why Maryland’s leadership on and investment in clean energy matters. By managing what we can control – our energy choices, our infrastructure investments, and our environmental policies – we build a stronger foundation to handle whatever surprises come our way.