The Board of County Commissioners has received several inquiries from concerned residents regarding the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project and the impact it may have on the community. The board was made aware of a proposed large-scale power line project and has been learning about its intricate details concurrently with the public.

The board upholds the principles of protecting property owner rights, local control, land use, and permitting authority. The proposed project does not respect any of these concepts. For these reasons, the Carroll County Board of Commissioners opposes the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project.

The Board of Commissioners will leverage all its influence with our neighboring jurisdictions and state and national leaders to halt the project in its current form. “Our priority is to mitigate any adverse impact this plan could have on the county’s citizens, community, and land,” says Commissioner Kiler, Board President.

All residents with questions, comments, or concerns, are strongly urged to submit their remarks on PSEG’s comment page.

What is the Project?

The Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP) is a critical system (grid) enhancement (update) that has been awarded to PSEG by PJM, the Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) responsible for operating and planning the regional electric grid in all or parts of thirteen states, including Maryland.

The MPRP is a 500,000-volt (500 kV) transmission line designed to respond to growing electric needs in Maryland and the surrounding region. Transmission reliability is key to supporting Maryland’s energy future.

The approximately 70-mile proposed transmission route spans three counties, westward from the connection point within the existing Baltimore Gas & Electric transmission line right-of-way in northern Baltimore County, through Carroll County, and into the existing Doubs 500kV Station in southern Frederick County.

Due to significant system overloads in the region, PJM determined that system reinforcements are necessary and that a new overhead transmission line is required in the Piedmont Plateau region of Maryland. PJM opened the 2023 competitive window seeking solutions to address this need.

In determining the proposed project route and scope to respond to the PJM competitive window, PSEG evaluated paralleling existing rights-of-way (ROW) in the PJM-defined area of concern to the extent feasible.  However, existing ROWs can traverse through populated areas, developed neighborhoods, environmentally sensitive areas (i.e. wetlands, waterways), and established parkland, which PSEG attempted to avoid in its initial proposed routing.

After being awarded the project in December 2023, PSEG began an in-depth routing analysis to further define the study area and to determine routing alternatives that would refine a viable route that considers and minimizes potential impacts to the built and natural environment. These alternatives are presented on this MPRP website as an interactive map, along with a stakeholder survey that will be available from July 8 – July 26.

The project will be subject to the Maryland Public Service Commission’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) process.  PSEG plans to submit the Maryland CPCN application in the fourth quarter of 2024. The project is expected to go into service (when the project delivers power) in June 2027.