The Baltimore County Council has taken a firm stance against the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project, a proposed extensive transmission line initiative stretching through three counties. In a unanimous vote on Monday, the council condemned the project that would span 70 miles and require overhead power lines across parts of Baltimore, Carroll, and Frederick counties, citing diverse concerns related to local agriculture, wetlands, and residents.
Directing a message of resistance towards the controversial project, Chairman Izzy Patoka emphasized the importance of vigilance in standing up to the plan. "Be vigilant and reach out to the Public Service Commission," Patoka said, as per CBS News Baltimore. "Share your opposition to this alignment and stay with it the whole way. Don't give up." Despite the council's condemnation, this does not halt the proposal but adds another layer of local government opposition.
In response to over 5,300 public comments, Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), the entity in charge of the project, revealed adjustments to the route. The power line aims to enhance grid resilience amidst a growing demand for electricity. "It's to enhance grid reliance for Maryland and the wider region," noted Project Director Jason Kalwa, as reported by CBS News Baltimore. However, alternatives to the transmission line, including the utilization of existing rights-of-way or amplifying renewable energy sources, have been proposed by concerned parties.
While it recognizes the state’s infrastructural needs, the county council remains hopeful for a solution that minimizes impact on the community. "We wanted to just ask the Public Service Commission and everyone, to be more respectful of the citizens and try to come up with a better plan," Councilman Julian Jones said, per WMAR. In a release, PSEG stated, "The additional import capability supported by the construction of the MPRP will help Maryland avoid growing their energy deficit, and thereby easing grid congestion and preventing grid overload, which can also benefit both energy affordability and reliability in the state."
As part of the regulatory process that precedes the project’s operational goal of June 2027, PSEG will submit a permit application by late 2024 or early 2025. Ahead of this submission, the company is set to conduct another round of in-person public information sessions in November, with a public comment period remaining open until November 15. Detailed information about these sessions was publicized by CBS News Baltimore and includes venues in the affected counties.
