The Maryland Farm Bureau moved to shut down the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project after the developer acknowledged it cannot meet the June 2027 deadline, arguing that there is no reason to spend more time and money on a project that has already failed its own timeline.
The Maryland Farm Bureau, joined by local county Farm Bureaus, filed a motion asking the Public Service Commission to dismiss the application for the MPRP, 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, outright after the developer acknowledged it cannot meet the required June 2027 in-service date.
“Back in 2024, we warned that the MPRP project’s unrealistic timeline threatens to take productive farmland out of use,” said Parker Welch, executive director of the Maryland Farm Bureau. “We urge PSC to dismiss this case and collaborate with farmers, landowners, elected officials, and stakeholders to advance energy projects that do not jeopardize Maryland’s finite farmland.”
The motion points out that the applicant, PSEG, has now conceded that the PSC’s necessary review process, a process designed to protect the public interest, will prevent the line from being built by the required contractual date.
Why It Matters
As previously reported on Conduit Street, 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 possible repercussions on agricultural lands and the disturbance to historic sites and open spaces have heightened local anxieties.
What’s Next
The PSC will decide whether to grant the motion and close the docket or keep the case moving under the current schedule. If dismissed, PSEG would need to regroup and submit a plan that aligns with Maryland’s review process and timeline realities.
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.
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: 2026 General Assembly Forecast
As the 2026 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.
MACo’s Winter Conference, “Local Leadership, Lasting Impact: Shaping What’s Next,” will be held at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, MD, on December 10-12, 2025.
Learn more about MACo’s Winter Conference:
- Attendee Registration Guide – PLEASE READ! (new registration system)
- Attendee Brochure (with full schedule)
- Exhibitor Registration Guide – PLEASE READ! (new registration system)
- 2024 Winter Conference Photos (see what it’s like!)
- Questions? Contact Virginia White
