Representatives from the contractor say a final route for the line could be announced soon.
(Photo from Public Service Enterprise Group)
Frederick,, Md (KM) A large crowd turned out last week for a town hall at Oakdale High School on the proposed Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project. That’s a 70-mile-long, 500-kilovolt transmission line which is expected to pass through Baltimore and Carroll Counties, ending at the Doubs substation in Frederick County.
Much of the line in Frederick County is expected to pass through the New Market and Ijamsville areas with most of the electricity going to Virginia to power data centers.
Representatives from the Public Service Enterprise Group, which has been contracted to build the line, were on hand. Nick Carrera, who lives on Thurston Road, suggested PSEG consider this alternative. “The data centers would have their own reactor on site. They wouldn’t have the big power lines from God knows where,” he said to the applause of the audience. “And, by the way, they wouldn’t have to have those dog-gone diesel generators because their power plant would be there safe and secure.”
PSEG has been awarded s contract to build the line by PJM, which manages the electric grid in Maryland, and other states. The contractor says this line is needed to meet the growing electricity needs in the region. A PSEG representative says older power generating stations are going off line faster than newer ones are coming on line.
Jason Kalwa, the director of the project, said PSEG is getting close to announcing its preferred route for the power ling. If the proposal is approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission, Kalwa says PSEG will contact the affected property owners. “We will negotiate directly with property owners. We will get a property appraisal. We are not looking to hide anything We will hire an appraiser. You, if you’re a property owner, you can hire an appraiser as well. If the market value says it’s a willing amount, that’s what we’re willing to pay,” he said.
“How many homes will be taken,” a citizen asked Kalwa. “Zero homes,” Kalwa replied.
PSEG has said in the past, it has not ruled out eminent domain to acquire the property it needs if negotiations with some landowners fail.
The MPRP electric transmission lines are expected to travel over Linganore Wine Cellars where grapes are grown to make the wine. Anthony Allen with Linganore Wine Cellars, says it will have an impact on the grape -growing process. He cited information from Bonneville Power in Oregon which says agricultural operations should not take place under electric transmission lines. “You’re going over one of vineyards that we have miles of wire for trellis wire. They said even if you ground both ends of the wires—we have six wires on each trellis–you still run the possibility of nuisance shocks. There are orchard and vineyard workers who refuse to work in those field under power lines,” he said.
Debbie Neiser from Carroll County owns some wooded property which has a conservation easement from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources “I’d like to make a correction. You keep saying you’re not going to be taking anyone’s home. You’re not going to be going over anyone’s home. That is my home,” she said. Her comments were following by applause from the audience.
The line could pass over properties which have been placed in agricultural preservation. Diane from Mount Airy has property which could be within the path of the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project. “It’s a little disingenuous to say that you’re being transparent when you’re concerned about giving letters to the homeowners that are now going to be on your path,”:: she said. “Why didn’t you send letters to all the homeowners that were in your proposed path because a lot of people didn’t find out about this initiative other than through Facebook groups.”
Before the meeting got underway, County Executive Jessica Fitzwater told those in the audience any decision regarding the MPRP is out of the county’s hands. She said when PSEG applies for its permit, it all in the hands of the PSC. “The Public Service Commission makes its decision, and the county is required to issue the permit. That is a hard thing for this community to swallow, and it’s a hard thing for me to swallow. But it is a reality, and I will never tell you that I can deliver something that I know I can’t deliver.”
Fitzwater told the audience they need to continue showing their disapproval of the project to the PSC. The County Council and the local Legislative Delegation have gone on record in opposition to MPRP.
PSEG has not yet submitted an application to build the project to the PSC. The company says that’s expected to take place by the end of 2024.
By Kevin McManus