County Executive Fitzwater says the county will use all legal tools at its dispose to oppose this project.
Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater
Frederick, Md (IKM) County Executive Jessica Fitzwater has announced that Frederick County will petition to intervene in the Public Service Commission’s consideration of the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project. That a 500-kilovolt, 70-mile long electric transmission line extending through northern Baltimore County, central Carroll County, and southern Frederick County. The line will provide power to data centers in northern Virginia.
“Frederick County totally opposes MPRP, and our decision to intervene should send a message that we will use the legal tools at our disposal to protect our community,” Fitzwater says in a statement. “While the law is clear that Frederick County does hot have the authority to stop MPRP ourselves, we will continue to work with our partners on the County Council to amplify our residents’ voices and advocate against this project.”
In intervening in this case, the county can file briefs and present evidence at hearings.
The project has generated strong opposition from affected property owners and other citizens. They’re concerned any transmission line crossing their properties will decrease their value. Many of these properties are farms that have been put into agricultural preservation.
The Maryland Public Service Commission will decide on whether the line will move forward.
The Public Service Enterprise Group has been awarded the contact by PJM, which manages the regional grid, to build the project, and it has recently filed its application with the PSC to construct the power line. .
The PSC is expected to hold a public hearing on the project in Frederick County.
By Kevin McManus