Frederick County Council Approves Letter In Opposition to MPRP

It will be sent to the Maryland Public Service Commission.Frederick, Md (KM) In a unanimous vote Tuesday night, the Frederick County Council approved a letter to the Public Service Commission expressing its opposition to the proposed Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project. That’s a nearly 70-mile long  transmission line extending from southern Pennsylvania through Baltimore and Carroll Counties, ending at the Doubs substation in Frederick County.In its letter, the Council says it has concerns about the “lack of public information justifying the full extent of the necessity for these lines.”   It also describes the “devastating effects”  this project could have on  Frederick County residents. This project, according to the letter, will “directly and negatively” impact current homes, businesses and farms, “of which many are in agricultural preservation programs, utilizing state and local funds.”  And it will impact “historic preservation sites, and diminish property values for thousands of Frederick County residents.”  It could also  affect environmentally  sensitive lands.The letter also goes on to say that the company planning to build the line, Public Service Enterprise Group, has said it is not ruling out  the use of eminent domain to acquire the property it needs.Along with that, the Council in its letter says PSEG has dismissed the idea of using existing rights of way with more technologically advanced lines.Prior to the vote, the Council heard from citizens urging their elected leaders to support the letter to the PSC. “We’re concerned about the risk to property rights, wildlife, environmental areas, historic areas, preserved farms,” says Mark Ferris with the citizens group Stop MPRP. “This is something that should be examined closely before we proceed, and  do something that is irreparable damage.”Critics of the project say Frederick County won’t get any of this electricity which they say will be going to data centers in northern Virginia. Elizabeth Bower with Envision  Frederick County said something needs to be done about power usage by data centers. “We urge you and the county staff to propose strong regulation of this industry as soon as possible before it’s too late as is in the case of Loudon County. We certainly don’t want to become another Loudon County,” she said.The letter was a revised version of one proposed last week by Councilman Steve McKay. It was re-drafted by Councilwoman M.C. Keegan-Ayer.  McKay spokes about the final result. “The elements from the letter I had drafted when we discussed it last week, and the elements from the County Executive’s letter and put them together in this form while still including what for me is that all important statement that we oppose this project because that’s what we need to say,” he said.PSEG still needs to file an application with the PSC for this project to move forward. The Council’s letter says that could happen in September or before the end of the calendar year.The PSC will make its decision on this project following  public hearings.By Kevin McManus