Update: District Court Ruling Appealed to Protect Landowners
About Stop Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project
On June 24, 2025, over 60 landowners, represented by Rosenberg Martin Greenberg, LLP, officially appealed a recent District Court ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The appeal challenges a preliminary injunction that permits PSEG Renewable Transmission LLC to enter and survey private properties—without consent and before completing the state's regulatory approval process for the proposed Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP).
This ruling grants PSEG sweeping access to land despite no final decision from the Maryland Public Service Commission on the project’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN). Our legal team argues that this mandatory injunction prematurely grants PSEG the very relief it is seeking in the case, before landowners have had a full opportunity to defend their property rights in court.
To prevent irreversible harm while the appeal is heard, the landowners also filed a motion to stay (pause) the injunction. Without a stay, PSEG could enter and complete its surveys long before the Fourth Circuit issues a decision—effectively rendering the appeal meaningless.
This case is about more than just access—it’s about the fundamental rights of Maryland landowners to defend their property from powerful out-of-state interests seeking to exploit the land before proper public review.
We remain committed to defending our rights and holding PSEG accountable. Thank you for standing with us. Please consider a donation. Every amount helps.
Update: Judge Grants Access to Private Property
About Stop Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project
Dear Friends,
We want to share an important and sobering update regarding the lawsuit brought by PSEG against more than 100 landowners who refused access to their private properties for survey work related to the proposed Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP).
On Friday, June 20, a federal judge issued a ruling granting PSEG’s request for a preliminary injunction, which means PSEG is now legally permitted to enter the named properties to conduct surveys. The judge also denied all motions to dismiss filed by landowners. You can view the court documents here.
According to the Court’s order, PSEG may begin entry immediately and can continue doing so until the Maryland Public Service Commission either approves or denies the CPCN application for the project. PSEG is required to give at least 24 hours’ notice before entering a property by taping a notice to the front door.
While this ruling is disappointing, it does not end our fight.
The legal team representing impacted landowners is carefully reviewing the court’s decision, and a meeting will be held early next week to determine next steps. Stop MPRP, Inc. remains committed to challenging this project on all fronts—legal, legislative, and grassroots—and protecting the rights of landowners and the health of our rural communities.
This is a critical moment. We will need your continued support and vigilance as the fight continues. Please consider a donation to the legal defense fund we established to support the landowners named in this lawsuit. Details below.
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Landowner Defense Fund
The Landowner Defense Fund was created to provide legal support to those named in the lawsuit and to protect the rights of landowners facing unjust pressure from this project.