Public Information Session To Be Held On Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project

It’s an electric transmission line proposed for parts of Baltimore, Carroll & Frederick Counties.(Photo from MPRP Website)Frederick, Md (KM) A public information session   is scheduled for Wednesday, July 10th in Brunswick for the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project. “Basically, what it is it’s to construct an approximately 70-mile transmission route across three counties, starting in northern Baltimore County, through Carroll County, and into an existing station in southern Frederick County,”  says William Smith, the Strategic Communications Manager for Public Service Enterprise Group, which plans to construct the transmission line.He says PJM, which manages the region’s electric grid,   made a determination that the project is  needed to provide for the growing electricity needs in that area. PJM put out a bid for the project, and PSEG won the contract late last year. “In posting the solicitation for the project, PJM has cited the retirement of   some existing sources and also increased demand. And basically this was needed to ensure reliability across the region, especially in Maryland,” says Smith.Quantum Loophole is constructing a data center at the former Eastalco sites in Adamstown, and data centers use a lot of electricity. Smith was asked about that. “I could not speak to that specific data center, although in the solicitation,   PJM did cite   that there  was increased  demand for electricity, including data centers,” he said.PSEG is holding public information sessions in all three counties this week to gather public input on this proposed transmission wire. One will take place on Wednesday, July 10th in Brunswick. “The public meetings that we’ll be hosting this week in the three counties will be to invite the public in to come and take a look at some route alternatives that we’ve prepared,” he said. “There are ten different alternatives that we’re putting out there for public comment.”The meetings in Brunswick will take place at the Brunswick Volunteer Fire Company at 1500 Volunteer Drive. One session will take place from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. A session in the evening will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. “We’ll have experts in different business lines to talk about what the real estate needs are, the technology that we’re using, the type of equipment, things like that” says Smith. “And most important to get feedback from the community. We want to hear from the people. That’s why we’re doing two sessions.”.After receiving this feedback, Smith says the company will come back later with its preferred alternative route which will be presented during public meetings in the three counties later this year to get more feedback. .All of this will take place before PSEG files its request to the Maryland Public Service Commission for authorization to build the line.Information about this project can be found online at MPRP.com.According to tis website, Public Service Enterprise Group has been around since 1903, and is based in New Jersey. It says it’s a regulated infrastructure company focused a clean energy future. The company it’s the largest provider of electricity and natural gas in New Jersey, and has  worked on projects in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland.By Kevin McManus