As the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project has gained widespread public opposition, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. has weighed in, voicing some concerns.

In a letter written to Public Service Enterprise Group, the company behind the proposed 70-mile transmission line that would span across Baltimore, Frederick and Carroll counties, Olszewski said, “We would like to unequivocally state our firm opposition to the use of eminent domain to construct this project.”

“We appreciate your commitment to only consider eminent domain as an option of last resort, but we prefer this measure be taken off the table completely,” the letter continued to say.

In the letter, Olszewski, a Democrat running to represent the 2nd Congressional District, also encouraged proposed alignments to be located in existing right-of-way wherever possible. Additionally, he asked for detailed load forecasts supporting the construction of a new transmission line.

Del. Jesse T. Pippy and Sen. William Folden, Republicans with the Frederick County delegation, wrote a letter Monday opposing the project. They noted several reasons for their opposition, including a lack of sufficient public engagement, and routes that would cause disruption, among other issues. The letter also said, “Ratepayers in Frederick County will be expected to shoulder the capital costs of a project that ultimately does not benefit them.”

“Everyone is saying, ‘No, not here, there’s a better way.’ Find the better way,” said Joanne Frederick, a Founding Director for Stop MPRP, Inc. “If it costs more money, if it takes more time, there’s a better way.”

PSEG has said the project is necessary to ensure a reliable grid and make sure growing energy needs can be met, especially due to generation retirements. When it comes to eminent domain, Jason Kalwa, a project director for PSEG said, “We don’t want to use it. It was really always intended as a last resort. We did err on the side of caution, and we’re transparent, you know, on our website and listing it. The one thing I do want to say, you know, to residents, I am sorry that is being seen as a threat. We really don’t want to use it.”

Additionally, Kalwa expressed challenges to paralleling existing right-of-ways and transmission lines. He said development has popped up near those existing lines, which could mean larger impacts to businesses and homes.

“If we were to parallel the existing route the whole way, the one we are being mostly asked to look at, you take a transmission tower line, the wires will literally be over people’s homes. They would not be able to live there, versus the routes that we’ve looked at while, you know, again, impacts are relative,” Kalwa said.

“One of our routing criteria was to make sure people could still live in their homes if they choose to,” he added.

However, Kalwa also said they are in the process of revisiting and modifying previously released routes based on public feedback.

“I think if you look at problems and challenges in the same old way you have always addressed them, you might be limited in your thinking of looking for new ways and solutions,” Frederick said.

PSEG is hosting a project webinar on Wednesday at 6 p.m. to continue providing information about the proposed project.