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.
Support Your Community
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.