SGCPC Update on MPRP
Many of you have asked us or reached out wondering about what’s happening, and what we’re doing, about the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP). As SGCPC reviews the proposal to put 70 miles of power lines through hundreds of acres of farmland, preserved lands, and environmentally sensitive areas, several things are certain:
– SGCPC is committed to sticking with the fight against the proposed transmission line no matter which route is selected. This project affects everyone who drinks water from the Prettyboy Reservoir, eats food grown in Baltimore County, and uses electricity. Electricity rates will increase for all of us to pay for this project, which does not serve Baltimore County.
– SGCPC is working with other organizations like The Valleys Planning Council (VPC), Carroll County and Frederick County to present a unified front. We support the land preservation and agricultural communities, including Gunpowder Valley Conservancy and the other land trusts operating in Baltimore County, as widespread rights-of-way through preserved land threaten the future of land preservation and reservoirs the provide drinking to both Baltimore City and County. The State of Maryland and Baltimore County also have land preservation programs (MALPF, MET, Rural Legacy) to protect farmland and other land with conservation values; SGCPC supports those programs as well.
– Many groups and individuals are concerned with the effects of transmission lines on streams, forests, wildlife, the environment, and farms, not to mention people. Besides the local land trusts, we’ve spent much time talking with representatives of these groups, to share information and to formulate a short- and long-term game plan. VPC and North County Community Group also have much experience organizing and managing communities so the views of residents are heard and affect proposed projects in their areas and we have benefited greatly from sharing our collective expertise.
What you can do right now
1. The PSC has set up an email address (piedmontcomments.psc@maryland.gov) to collect comments related to the project. If and when an application is filed with the PSC and it opens a case, those comments will be added to the public comments file of the case so that the Commission has the benefit of the public’s views.
Please submit your comments now and encourage everyone else to as well. Also, contact elected officials at all levels of government to let them know you are opposed to the MPRP. Everyone’s support and participation is vital!
2. You should complete the online survey on the PSEG website. Residents do not have to be on or even near projected lines to voice their opinion. The 10 routes on map are arbitrary and may change in the future, so no area is safe from these intrusions! PJM will choose their route of least resistance in September. The deadline for this survey, as of today, is 5pm on July 26, so don’t delay. You may enter comments as many times as you wish
3. You can make a donation using our online form to help fund expenses SGCPC will incur, primarily legal fees and expenses. Any donations made will be tax deductible through our 501(c)3 organization (Fed Tax ID# 20-3888970), to the extent of the law. Please mention MPRP in your notes.
4. Finally, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has scheduled an open meeting for July 25 at 10 AM. The agenda indicates it will be talking about PJM though it’s not clear if MPRP will be included in their discussion.
This link is to the agenda for the meeting – https://ferc.gov/news-events/news/sunshine-notice-july-2024-commission-meeting . This link is to the meeting itself, available virtually for those who are unable to attend in person – https://ferc.gov/news-events/events/july-25-2024-open-meeting-07252024 .