Picture this: Gas lamps glow on Baltimore’s streets. Below ground, cast iron pipes deliver natural gas to a growing city—pipes considered high-tech for the time.
Now fast forward more than a century. While the city has transformed, hundreds of miles of those same cast iron pipes are still in service—quietly working beneath our feet. But they weren’t built for today’s demands. In fact, they leak at up to 100 times the rate of modern materials.
It’s time for a change.
The Downtown Pipeline Project is part of BGE’s mission to modernize Baltimore’s energy infrastructure—replacing outdated, leak-prone cast iron mains with safer, more efficient materials.
More than a hundred years of technological advances go into this new pipeline.
By working to meet federal regulatory objectives and comply with federal and state guidelines and policy, BGE has already replaced nearly 350 miles of old pipe since 2013. In 2025, over 40 more miles are scheduled for replacement across the region. These investments have significantly reduced underground leaks—progress that makes the system safer and helps the state of Maryland meet its ambitious climate goals.
While the finished work may not always be visible, its impact is lasting. Every upgraded mile strengthens the foundation to create a more resilient energy system—one that can support Baltimore today and for generations to come.
So next time you walk through downtown, imagine the transformation happening just below the surface. The old is being replaced—not just with something new, but with something safer, stronger, and better for our future.
Because good energy doesn’t just power our homes—it evolves with them.
