The Board of Carroll County Commissioners continue to take steps to stop the controversial Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project, a proposed 70-mile high-voltage transmission power line that would run through Carroll, Frederick and Baltimore counties.

Most recently, the board denied the Public Service Enterprise Group, the entity contracted by PJM to build the $424 million power line, temporary access onto four county-owned properties, according to a county news release Tuesday. PJM operates and plans Maryland’s electric grid,

According to the news release, Contract Land Staff LLC, hired by the Public Service Enterprise Group, sought temporary access to the property to evaluate its suitability for the project through a temporary right of entry.

“And we anticipate the need to purchase temporary or permanent property rights for these access roads from you for the project if approved by the [Maryland Public Service Commission],” Contract Land Staff stated in a letter to commissioners.

The PSC is the state agency that regulates public utilities and has the authority to make the final decision on whether the project will be built through Baltimore, Frederick and Carroll counties.

When asked for a reaction to the commissioners’ denial, PSEG’s Strategic Communications Manager William J. Smith declined to comment.

Denying this access is the board’s latest action in opposing the power line project.

“Carroll County has been very clear that we are vehemently opposed to the MPRP project, which would adversely impact the environment, our agricultural industries, and the quality of life of our citizens,” the board’s letter to Contract Land Staff LLC states. “… We are rejecting your request for permission to enter the captioned county properties, and we have no interest in granting any access rights which would facilitate this flawed project.”

Commissioners in January filed a “petition to intervene” with the Maryland Public Service Commission, that allows them to participate in the legal process, present evidence and attempt to influence the outcome.

“The BoC continues to use all its influence with neighboring jurisdictions as well as state and national leaders to halt the project in its current form to mitigate any adverse impact this plan could have on the county’s citizens, community and land,” Tuesday’s news release states.

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