Carroll County officials renew opposition to Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project as PSC review begins

Carroll County commissioners and residents pressed their opposition to the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP), telling attendees the county has passed resolutions condemning the project and urging citizens to file letters with the Maryland Public Service Commission.

Commissioner Vigliotti said the board "have formally resolved opposition to the MPRP" and described steps the county has taken, including letters to the Public Service Commission (PSC), preparing to intervene at the PSC, invoking federal coordination with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and exploring legal and local options to delay or halt the project. "We stand with our citizens and we stand with home," he said.

The commissioners said the project — which they describe as large overhead transmission lines routed through Carroll County — would cross farmland, forests, wetlands and private properties with no local benefit. Commissioners and members of the public told the audience the county has built alliances with neighboring jurisdictions and is coordinating with state and federal elected officials to oppose the proposal.

Asked what citizens can do, a resident in the audience was told by commissioners to file a letter of opposition with the PSC and to contact state delegates and senators. "First of all... file a letter of opposition with the Public Service Commission," Commissioner Kyler told the audience, noting the PSC has a dedicated address for submissions and the county website links to that information.

Commissioners also urged property owners to assert their rights at the parcel level. "I encourage everybody to do that," Commissioner Caron said, referring to posting no-trespassing signs and directly telling the company it is not welcome on private land. Commissioners warned that a PSC decision could change the legal landscape but said they want citizens to act now to demonstrate local opposition.

The panel described additional legal complexities they are probing, including how agricultural preservation easements would be treated on affected parcels and whether eminent domain authority is properly asserted in filing documents. Commissioners said the filing submitted by the company includes thousands of pages and that staff are still reviewing detailed materials.

County officials noted they had unanimously passed two resolutions opposing the project and opposing the use of eminent domain for it. They urged residents to keep communicating with elected officials and to submit formal opposition to the PSC as the regulatory process unfolds.

The commissioners said they will continue to coordinate with other Maryland counties and statewide associations to pursue legislative and legal remedies while municipal and individual property-level actions continue.

Ending

County leaders framed the campaign against the MPRP as ongoing: they outlined administrative, legislative and legal steps already taken, encouraged residents to submit PSC comments and to contact state and federal lawmakers, and said the county will continue to investigate legal and regulatory grounds to block the proposal.