BALTIMORE — It's been the subject of major concern for residents in at least three Maryland Counties.
The prospect of giant power lines cutting across their land has sparked fierce push back among many.
But now it could be just a matter of time before the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project becomes a reality.
PSEG Renewable Transmission LLC filed an application on New Year's Eve, seeking approval from the Maryland Public Service Commission to build a high-voltage transmission line.
If the commission grants a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, the project would be green lit despite objections from several communities and lawmakers.
The proposed route is 150 feet wide and 70 miles long, spanning beyond Ballenger Creek Pike in Frederick County to Parkton in Baltimore County.
PSEG insists it would be much less intrusive than other options.
“We believe this filing illustrates a project that is community-informed, reliable and mitigates impact to individuals, communities, and wildlife as much as possible while delivering a cost-effective reliability solution for Maryland," said Jason R. Kalwa, project director at PSEG.
Last month the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) released a study indicating the project could disrupt over 500 acres of state forests and wetlands.
Officials say new power lines are needed by 2027, or else Maryland and other states could face "widespread and severe reliability problems."
“This project is needed to preserve grid reliability for Maryland consumers as electricity demand increases and generation resources are retiring both in the state and in the broader PJM region. Transmission overloads this severe can lead to widespread and extreme conditions such as system collapse and blackouts if not addressed,” said Paul McGlynn, Vice President of PJM, the independent Regional Transmission Organization responsible for operating and planning Maryland's electric grid. “The MPRP was selected because it solves the reliability need with the least amount of infrastructure development required, has cost containment in place, and is slated to have a much stronger system performance than any other alternative.”
Before making a decision, the commission will accept feedback and host public hearings.
For more information on the project, click here.
