Amidst growing concerns, Governor Wes Moore has called for a meeting with PJM Interconnection and Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) leaders to discuss the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project.
As previously reported on Conduit Street, the project involves constructing a 500,000-volt transmission line stretching approximately 70 miles through northern Baltimore County and Carroll County to an existing station in southern Frederick County.
County leaders have voiced significant opposition to the project, calling for greater transparency, deeper community engagement, and a thorough exploration of less disruptive alternatives.
Counties are concerned about potential environmental harm, property devaluation, and the unsettling prospect of displacing residents and businesses. Additionally, the potential repercussions on agricultural lands and the disturbance to historic sites and open spaces have heightened local anxieties.
Governor Moore voiced reservations about the project’s benefits to Marylanders, echoing the concerns of county leaders and community stakeholders.
“As I have consistently maintained, the method by which the study area for this project was selected, the evident lack of community input in the planning stages, and insufficient communication regarding the project’s impacts are troubling,” said Governor Moore. “What remains most elusive is a clear articulation of the project’s net benefit to Marylanders.”
While the MPRP has sparked significant concern among residents and local stakeholders, it also highlights a broader challenge faced by the US energy grid. The rising electricity demand, driven by advancements in data centers, artificial intelligence, and domestic manufacturing, underscores the urgent need to modernize the grid infrastructure.
MACo Winter Conference Session: 2025 General Assembly Forecast
As the 2025 legislative session nears, the General Assembly is poised to tackle significant energy-related fiscal and policy issues in the coming year.
At this year’s MACo Winter Conference, leadership from the House and Senate (majority and minority) and the administration will discuss the upcoming legislative session. Attendees will gain valuable insights into anticipated legislative agendas, including how energy policy decisions and infrastructure developments will shape Maryland’s future.
Learn more about MACo’s Winter Conference:
