Newly appointed Maryland State Senator Kevin Harris visited Calvert County in late 2025 or early 2026 to tour key energy and infrastructure sites following his appointment by Gov. Wes Moore to fill the District 27 Senate seat. The district encompasses all of Calvert County, southern Charles County and portions of Prince George’s County. Harris, previously a delegate representing District 27A since January 2023, met with local officials including Calvert County commissioners to discuss energy production, regional economic impacts and transportation priorities.
The visit included stops at the Constellation Clean Energy Center in Lusby, the Cove Point LNG Plant and the Gov. Thomas Johnson Bridge. Discussions centered on the facilities’ contributions to Maryland’s energy landscape and ongoing needs in Southern Maryland. At the Constellation Clean Energy Center, also known as Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, participants reviewed operations at the state’s only nuclear facility, which generates up to 1,790 megawatts of carbon-free electricity, sufficient to power more than 1.3 million homes. The site, operational since 1975, supports local employment and contributes significantly to tax revenue for county services.
Attendees at the Constellation site included Stefanie Barone and Dustin Reiter of Constellation, Commissioner Catherine Grasso, County Administrator Linda Turner, Commissioner Vice President Mark Cox, and Januari McKay, chief of staff to Senator Harris.
The tour proceeded to the Cove Point LNG Plant, an export terminal operated by BHE GT&S near Lusby. The facility handles liquefied natural gas import, export, storage and liquefaction, recognized for technical advancements and environmental measures. It plays a role in energy independence and global exports while providing jobs and tax contributions to Calvert County.
Participants at Cove Point included Commissioner Earl “Buddy” Hance, George Anas of Cove Point LNG, Senator Harris and Commissioner Vice President Mark Cox.
The final stop was the Gov. Thomas Johnson Bridge on Maryland Route 4, which spans the Patuxent River connecting Calvert and St. Mary’s counties. Completed in 1977, the 1.37-mile bridge carries an average of more than 31,000 vehicles daily, with projections exceeding 38,000 by 2040. The current two-lane structure has been deemed functionally obsolete by state officials, prompting calls for replacement or widening to address congestion, improve safety, enhance emergency evacuations and support economic growth tied to employers like Naval Air Station Patuxent River and Calvert Cliffs. The bridge remains a priority for local governments in Calvert and St. Mary’s counties, as well as the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, though funding challenges persist despite federal infrastructure allocations.
Calvert County officials expressed appreciation for the visit and anticipation of collaboration. “Calvert County looks forward to working with Senator Harris in his newly appointed role as he represents District 27 and advocates for the needs of our community,” according to a county statement.
Harris, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was nominated by the Democratic Central Committees of Calvert, Charles and Prince George’s counties in November 2025 after former Sen. Michael A. Jackson resigned on October 21, 2025, to become acting superintendent of the Maryland State Police. Gov. Moore announced the appointment on December 5, 2025, and Harris was sworn in on December 9, 2025. He serves on the Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee, aligning with the focus of his Calvert County tours.
District 27’s energy assets, including Calvert Cliffs and Cove Point, underscore Southern Maryland’s role in statewide power generation. Calvert Cliffs provides reliable baseload power, while Cove Point supports LNG exports amid rising global demand. These facilities generate economic benefits through employment, taxes and community investments, such as Constellation’s recent grants for local education and philanthropy.
Transportation infrastructure like the Thomas Johnson Bridge supports daily commutes and regional connectivity. Ongoing maintenance by the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration addresses immediate needs, but long-term solutions require sustained funding to meet growth in population and traffic.
The visit highlights early engagement between the new senator and Calvert County leaders on priorities including energy reliability, economic development and infrastructure improvements. Harris’s background in the House Appropriations Committee and military service positions him to address these issues in the 2026 legislative session, which began January 14, 2026.