Stop the Transmission Lines: MD Residents Will Pay the Social & Financial Cost of Infrastructure to Serve Data Centers
Stop the Transmission Lines: MD Residents Will Pay the Social & Financial Cost of Infrastructure to Serve Data Centers
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Stop MPRP, Inc. opposes the proposed MPRP for several key reasons centered around financial, environmental, and community concerns.
Unfair Financial Burden and Out-of-State Interests: Despite primarily serving out-of-state corporations, the project forces Marylanders to shoulder a significant portion of its $424 million cost. PJM, the Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) behind the project, awarded it to New Jersey-based PSEG. Yet, neither PJM nor PSEG can clearly explain how much, if any, of the electricity from these high-voltage power lines will benefit Maryland residents.
The MPRP is designed to transport electricity from Pennsylvania to Northern Virginia, largely bypassing Maryland's needs. Meanwhile, customers across PJM’s service area, including Maryland, will see this burden reflected in their electric bills, effectively subsidizing the operations of some of the wealthiest corporations without receiving direct benefits. This is not only unfair, but it also places an unnecessary financial strain on the people and businesses of Maryland.
Outdated Infrastructure: The Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project relies on outdated infrastructure that poses unnecessary risks to our environment and communities. Instead of pursuing harmful high-voltage transmission lines, we advocate for exploring more sustainable and efficient alternatives.
Lack of Comprehensive Energy Planning: Maryland lacks a well-integrated energy plan. The Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project is not the result of a single policy failure, but rather a reflection of the broader, fragmented nature of our government’s approach to energy planning. Our state lacks a well-integrated, cohesive energy strategy, leading to siloed decision-making and disconnected policies that fail to account for the long-term impact on Maryland’s environment and communities.
As industries like data centers experience rapid growth, they are expanding without sufficient oversight or consideration for sustainable energy solutions. The MPRP exposes the critical gaps in Maryland's approach to energy planning, emphasizing the need for a unified vision that balances economic development with environmental preservation and the well-being of its residents.
Threats to Landowners and Agriculture: The project would require permanent easements on private properties, disrupting landowners' lives and businesses with the installation of 140-foot-tall transmission towers. Maryland’s farmers are essential to the region’s food security and economy, yet the MPRP threatens to strip them of valuable agricultural land, making farming operations more difficult or even impossible in some areas. The loss of agricultural land to power lines would have lasting consequences for our food system and economy.
Adding to the concern, if landowners do not willingly grant easements to PSEG, there is a real possibility that eminent domain could be used to forcibly acquire their land. This not only sets a dangerous precedent for future projects but also erodes property rights, opening the door to further encroachments on private land across the state. At a time when we are facing an energy crisis, projects like this will only become more frequent unless we adopt a thoughtful, comprehensive approach to planning for Maryland's energy future. Without such foresight, private landowners and farmers will continue to bear the brunt of poorly planned infrastructure projects.
Environmental and Landscape Preservation: The project poses a serious threat to Maryland’s natural beauty, cutting through farmlands, conservation areas, and historic sites. The Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP) threatens 4,000 acres of land, including forests, farmland, and wildlife habitats, with long-term environmental damage. The construction of high-voltage transmission lines would lead to habitat loss, wildlife disruption, increased fire risks, and ecosystem degradation, affecting local rivers, soil health, and carbon storage. These impacts, coupled with the reduction of vital ecosystem services like water purification and flood control, underscore the need for more sustainable energy alternatives.
At Stop MPRP, Inc., we believe in advocating for smarter, more sustainable solutions that prioritize Maryland’s communities, environment, and agricultural heritage.
The Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project, or MPRP, proposes a 70-mile-long, 500,000-volt transmission line that is twice as powerful as the lines most people are familiar with. This line would extend from Norrisville in Harford County, passing through Baltimore, Carroll, and Frederick Counties, and end at the Doubs substation in southern Frederick County. However, this project could be avoided by adopting less destructive, non-invasive, and more modern alternatives available today.
The driving force behind the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project is the rapid growth of data centers, as outlined by PJM in their RTEP Window 3 Reliability Analysis report. The report states PJM's load forecast "...indicated high data center load growth activity, particularly in northern Virginia...data center loads within northern Virginia have been increasing at an unprecedented rate, and new data center load is being proposed in Maryland." This surge in data center demand is cited as a primary justification for the MPRP, which aims to accommodate the increased energy needs. The proposed date of operation of the MPRP is June 2027.
There are modern, cost-effective alternatives to large transmission projects like the MPRP that could meet energy demands without the need for new powerlines that disrupt private land and ecosystems such as:
Unfortunately, PJM, the organization overseeing the MPRP, does not consider many non-transmission alternatives unless they are already in development and approved. As a result, potentially cost-effective and less disruptive solutions, like those listed above, are often left off the table.
Please visit our Alternatives page to learn more about these options.
The Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP) will directly impact communities in Baltimore, Carroll, and Frederick Counties, where high-voltage transmission lines are proposed to cut across farms, private properties, and conservation areas. However, the financial impact of this project extends far beyond these counties. All customers in PJM’s service area, which includes Maryland, will bear a portion of the $424 million cost through their electric bills, regardless of where they live.
A finalized proposed route for the project has been published, but please note that changes may still be made during the CPCN process.
Simply put, yes. People have successfully stopped or altered transmission projects in the past through coordinated community efforts, legal action, and lobbying. Success typically comes when communities unite to raise awareness of the environmental, financial, and property rights concerns associated with these projects. The more people who stand together with us, the stronger we become.
The project faces significant risks and challenges that could prevent it's completion:
The project is subject to Maryland's Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), a critical regulatory requirement for large utility projects in Maryland. It’s issued by the Public Service Commission (PSC) and involves a public process where stakeholders can provide input on the proposed project.
The CPCN process, including timelines and specific requirements, is outlined on the Maryland Public Service Commission’s website and summarized in this presentation.
For those seeking more detailed information, the complete regulations are described in detail in Title 20 of the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), specifically, Subtitle 79, which governs applications related to the construction or modification of generating stations, qualified generator lead lines, and overhead transmission lines (COMAR 20.79). Understanding these regulations is essential for stakeholders who want to engage in or challenge the permitting process.
Stop MPRP, Inc. is a grassroots, nonpartisan organization urgently working to stop the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP). This project seeks to install high-voltage power lines across Baltimore, Carroll, and Frederick Counties, posing serious threats to farms, ecosystems, and property rights.
While the MPRP benefits out-of-state corporations, it leaves Marylanders to bear the financial, environmental, and personal costs. We advocate for smarter, more sustainable energy solutions that balance technological progress, green energy, agriculture, housing, and environmental preservation.
We are a 501(c)4 membership organization with members in Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick Counties, and beyond. Our strength lies in uniting communities to coordinate efforts to oppose the MPRP.
Learn more about our founding Board Members here.
There are many ways you can help right now. These include:
Each Maryland has four (4) main bodies of Elected Officials who make policy and pass legislation on behalf of the people. They are:
We've put together this information to help, or you can enter your address at this link and identify each of your elected officials. It is important that you take every opportunity to share your views with the people who are in place to represent you.
PJM Interconnection is a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). It oversees the coordination of electricity sales and transmission across all or parts of 13 states, including Maryland, as well as the District of Columbia.
One of PJM’s key responsibilities is long-term grid planning through its Regional Transmission Expansion Plan (RTEP). This process identifies necessary upgrades and expansions to ensure the electrical grid remains reliable. When a need arises, PJM opens competitive “planning windows,” inviting transmission developers to submit proposals. PJM then reviews and selects the best solutions.
The Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP) is part of 2022 RTEP Window 3 which resulted in a historic level of new transmission system projects. The project was largely driven by the rising energy demands of data centers, primarily located in Northern Virginia. Since regional grids are interconnected and electricity flows across state borders, the impact of this growing demand extends into Maryland.
We understand the concerns and fears you face as a landowner potentially affected by the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP). We've launched a new Landowner Resource Hub on our website to serve as a one-stop shop for those impacted.
If you receive a letter from PSEG about the project, the first thing you should do is fill out the form, and read the important materials provided. This will help us advocate for you and keep you updated on how to protect your property rights.
Please rest assured PSEG cannot use eminent domain to take your land at this time. They will not have that authority unless and until their Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) is approved, a process that will take months or years.
At Stop Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (Stop MPRP), our vision is to safeguard Maryland’s families, farms, and private lands from the intrusion of 500 kV transmission lines.
See our FAQ and Updates for more information.
Our mission is clear: to protect and preserve Maryland’s unique landscapes and private properties by actively opposing the installation of high-voltage power lines on privately owned land. Through community engagement, education, and advocacy, we aim to uphold property rights, safeguard our farmlands, and promote environmentally responsible energy solutions that respect our landowners and our communities' well-being.
Together, we stand committed to ensuring a future where progress and preservation go hand in hand.
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