The United States has the second largest electricity consumption in the world, and the amount of power used annually is continuously increasing. This is a result of the US’s power distribution system, which consists of over 180 million power lines nationwide.
These power lines are made to carry power from electricity plants to various places in a given region, but the poles can only carry so much energy at a time. This means that if there is too much power being used, additional power lines need to be manufactured to avoid power grid strain in the area.
According to Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), a New Jersey based energy company, Maryland has recently been experiencing electrical system overloads, which will require new power lines to be constructed.
These power lines will be moving westward through Maryland, starting in Baltimore county, crossing into Carroll and Frederick counties.
PJM, the Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) in charge of operations of the electrical grid in Washington D.C. and 13 states including Maryland, noticed Maryland needed to increase the amount of electricity available to the state.
PSEG was one of numerous organizations and companies who identified possible plans to create more electricity. However, PJM decided to award the project rights to PSEG’s MPRP plan in December 2023.
The power lines will cut paths through numerous farm lands, causing complications to farmers’ work. Many of the farmers in these districts most impacted by the new power lines have recently taken to protesting the project altogether.
Stop MPRP is an organization created specifically to keep the project from happening. The group believes that the power lines will only cause devastation to the area. This especially applies to farmers, seeing as PSEG has a policy which states that no vehicles over 12 feet can pass under the power lines without the company’s permission. This further harms the farmers ability to work.
The protesters have executed a number of rallies and fundraisers to gain support against MPRP, and more are already planned. The most recent protest took place at the Linganore Winery in Frederick County on September 28.
Protester Caryn Joachim believes that the power lines are only for corporate use and will not be helpful to any of the people in Maryland.
“These power lines are not for Maryland residents,” said Joachim. “The plan is to have these power lines continue [from the Peach Bottom nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania and through Maryland] to dozens of data centers in Virginia.”
In order to obtain the land that the power lines will be placed on, PSEG will be utilizing eminent domain throughout the three counties.
Eminent domain is a stated right of the government, which falls under the Fifth Amendment of the Bill of Rights. According to the amendment, private property cannot be taken for public usage without just compensation to whoever owns the land. This implies that if the government wishes to use the property, it must be for everyone to use, not just corporate enterprises. Normally, this applies to the construction of projects, such as highways. It also means that the government must provide a reimbursement for the land taken.
However, some Linganore residents and students at Linganore High School (LHS) believe that the compensation is next to nothing and have voiced concerns regarding the impact to and outcome of the property assumed by eminent domain.
“The power lines are going through two of my neighbors fields,” said LHS junior Aubrey Hortie. “One of them has a horse farm, and the owners will not really be getting paid for the land being taken from them, so I am not really sure where the horses will live.”
In response, PSEG claims these power lines are necessary to fight the overuse of power in Maryland. On the other hand, members from the Stop MPRP cited that only 3.86% of the power will actually be used for the community. The other 96.14% will be distributed amongst the data centers in Virginia.
While the average resident may not believe that the power lines will directly affect them, public usage places will also be influenced by the project.
One example of public use being affected by PSEG eminent domain claim is Gaver Farm, a farm that residents of Frederick county visit every year for various events, including pumpkin picking and Christmas tree cutting. These power lines will go right through a section of their property that directly impacts these activities.
“Our farm is an historical homestead,” said Laura Gaver House, the Agritourism Manager at Gaver Farm. “Our business and crops are not something that can be relocated easily or really at all.”
While some wonder if compromise between PSEG and protestors is possible, Stop MPRP members believe that finding a middle ground is next to impossible.
“We are trying to stop it [MPRP],” says Joachim. “This is basically a plan that will devastate 70 miles of land, farms, barns and homes.”
The Stop MPRP website lists a number of alternatives to constructing more power lines, including promoting microgrids; creating advanced battery storage; and focusing on the creation of grid-enhancing technologies, otherwise known as GETs.
MPRP has yet to finalize their power line route and Stop MPRP continues to bring people and representatives across Maryland together in protest. People interested in the project claiming eminent domain can find further information at the official MPRP page or join the protests at the Stop MPRP website.
