(2/2025) I have a couple of updates to share regarding the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP), the proposed 70 mile high-voltage power line project that will cross areas in Baltimore, Carroll, and Frederick Counties. The line would run through rural areas near New Market, Ijamsville, Buckeystown, and Adamstown. Since last summer, when I and other elected officials were made aware of this plan, a steady drumbeat of opposition from the community has only gotten louder. The County Council joined County Executive Fitzwater in opposition to the process the Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) is using to attain the land necessary to construct the power line project they have designed. We have been adamantly opposed to use of eminent domain to take Frederick County properties to execute their acquisition plan.
Last month, the County Council discussed a resolution in opposition to the MPRP, drafted by Council Member McKay (District 2). A resolution goes beyond sending a letter to Public Service Commission (PSC) appealing for a better process for consideration of PSEG’s approval application to construct the line. Without any substantive changes being made to the proposal, opposition to the project itself is the next logical step in continuing to advocate for our residents and constituents. Baltimore County and Carroll County have taken similar actions, and being unified can only help this cause.
Additionally, County Executive Fitzwater has authorized Frederick County to intervene in the state approval process. This action enables the County to file a petition to intervene in approval process that the PSC will conduct for the MPRP. If a petition to intervene is granted to Frederick County by the PSC, the County would become a party to the case. This would grant the County the ability to file testimony and evidence of the damaging effects on rural areas, conduct discovery to make the process more transparent, and the ability to call and cross-examine witnesses.
Member of both parties in our state delegation plan to introduce legislation in this year’s Maryland General Assembly in response to the negative effects of the MPRP on the County. Senator Karen Lewis Young (MD District 3) is proposing a bill to require local utilities to provide periodic reports of anticipated electricity load growth and response. Many residents are frustrated with the lack of transparency about regional grid planning, mostly because of seeing their monthly bill increase without detailed explanation. Perhaps most importantly, the senator’s bill would require the PSC to consider a utility’s effort to use existing infrastructure and right of ways when considering approval of a new project. This may be the most frequent appeal I hear regarding the MPRP. Why can’t PSEG improve and update the existing power lines with more modern equipment? We are counting on the PSC to ask PSEG that question, and as an intervener, Frederick County may have an opportunity to ask them
directly.
Delegation Chair Jesse Pippy (MD District 4) also plans to introduce a bill that could affect this process moving forward. His bill would require the PSC to review alternatives to proposed transmission projects, rather than an up or down vote on one plan. Given how long the approval process can take, this is a much more efficient approach. Regardless of whether this bill could pass in time to positively impact the MPRP project, it would be an improvement in the process for future transmission projects.
There is a lot of advocacy being done on this issue to protect the interests of Frederick County residents and businesses. I will keep you informed as this process unfolds during 2025. If you have thoughts on the MPRP or another issue, please contact me at rknapp@frederickcountymd.gov.
Happy Presidents’ Day!
