He also says it should use existing rights of way to string up the transmission lines.
Frederick, Md (KM) The proposed Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project is generating discussion and strong opposition among citizens in Frederick County. It’s a 500-kilovolt electric transmission line planned for northern Baltimore County through Carroll County, ending at the Doubs Substation in Adamstown in Frederick County.
Public Service Enterprise Group in New Jersey was awarded a contracted by PJM Intercontinental, the manager of the regional grid, to build the line. But some Frederick County residents were not told about it early enough, and number of property owners are upset that PSEG has said it is not ruling out using eminent to obtain the property it needs for the line.
Tom Hattery, a retired energy consultant says the state can’t let PSEG be in control of this project; it must get involved. “There is so much opportunity for now and in particular for the future,” he said. “But we could really squander that opportunity if we let one single company come and make their own decisions, and dominate the scene.”
One of those opportunities, he says, has to do with the type of technology being proposed for the project. Hattery says the current technology being proposed is about 100 years old. “The old technology basically is the steel-covered aluminum conductor. Actually, there was some improvement made to that in the 1970s. To say it’s 100 years old is a bit of an exaggeration because there was an improvement along the way,” he said.
Hattery says a newer technology can transmit at least twice as much electricity in the same cable compared to the current technology. “We have carbon fiber available. And if carbon fiber is used in these cables, it’s lighter, it’s strong, it’s not subject to sagging,” he says.
“Not only are they more efficient, they lose half of the energy loss as the old cables. So they’re more efficient in that way,” Hattery continues.
The alternatives being proposed would go over farmland in Frederick County, a lot of which has already been placed in agricultural preservation. Critics of the project say this would make it difficult for farmers to keep using their properties to grow crops and raise livestock. . Hattery says PSEG should use the existing rights of way for electric transmission lines. “This company might not have its own private access to something, but the state certainly can make it happen that of using existing right of way,” he says.
Critics have also said the power transmitted by these lines will be used by data centers in northern Virginia. Hattery says it’s good to have data centers which calls “a good economic driver,” a good employer and a “clean industry.” but he says he’s looking for ways to serve all of these things together rather having one company dictate everything.
Hattery served as a state delegate for Frederick County, and he says he’s always been an environmentalist and a conservationist. But he says it’s best to never impede the quality of life of citizens. Hattery says he’s looking for a way to meet everyone’s needs, but in a more cleaner and efficient way.
The Frederick County Council is scheduled on Tuesday evening to discuss and vote on a resolution opposing this project.
A final decision on the MPRP will be made by the Maryland Public Service Commission following a series of hearings.
By Kevin McManus