New High-Voltage Line Proposed to Address Maryland Grid Reliability by 2027
Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) has submitted an application to the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) for approval of the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP), a proposed 70-mile high-voltage transmission line. PSEG is requesting a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to authorize construction, aiming to have the line operational by June 2027.
The project, which would pass through Baltimore, Carroll, and Frederick Counties, is designed to address reliability concerns identified by PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator. PJM has forecasted that without the MPRP, Maryland’s bulk electric transmission system could face critical issues by 2027, including widespread blackouts and voltage collapse.
Frederick Hoover, chair of the PSC, highlighted that the approval process is lengthy and involves multiple agencies reviewing environmental factors, route selection, land use, and energy needs. Public hearings are also planned in communities that could be affected by the project.
PSEG said that securing PSC approval by January 2026 is necessary to meet PJM’s required in-service date. The company emphasized its commitment to addressing Maryland’s growing energy demand and collaborating with regulators throughout the review process.
Source: foxbaltimore.com
