On July 31, several members of the Maryland General Assembly are hosting a Citizen Town Hall meeting to discuss the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP).
What is MPRP?
This is a project that plans to run 500,000-volt electric lines through Maryland and Virginia to meet the “increased need” for electric service.
What's the concern?
EMFs. Electro-Magnetic Frequencies. We are a high-tech world. With so many electronic devices surrounding our daily lives, what are the health risks from EMFs - not only from the devices but also from the amplified electricity required to run them? We increasingly hear of higher incidents of cancer and other illnesses. Scientists say research is inconclusive as to whether EMFs cause a danger to our health. That also means research is inconclusive as to whether EMFs do NOT cause a danger to our health.
In the past few years, we’ve had similar concerns with a particular health situation. Remember COVID-19? Many believe forced vaccination without solid research created increased health issues, including a high incidence of sudden deaths in otherwise healthy people.
Before allowing a project of this magnitude with the potential of impacting so many lives, more information is warranted. What effect will this project have on:
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- Humans
- Animals
- Crops
- Land
- Air
- Water
- Your Wallet – yes, you will be paying for this project.
What conclusive evidence can they provide that our health, livelihood, children, pets, livestock, crops, property values, etc. will not be negatively impacted? These are legitimate questions and citizens deserve answers.
What can you do?
If at all possible, attend the Citizen Town Hall meeting on July 31, 2024 at 6PM. It will be held at Linganore High School 12013 Old Annapolis Rd Frederick, MD 21701-3423.
Use your voice. Let them know how you feel about it.
Not sure yet how you feel about it? Ask questions. Learn more. Do your own research. Attend the meeting. The people who need to hear from you will be there. The Town Hall announcement reads as follows:
We have invited the public, property owners, legislators, local officials, stakeholders, media and representatives from PSEG, The Public Service Commission (PSC) to participate in a Q&A.
We ask that you register in advance to ensure that we can comply with capacity limits for the venue. Additionally, this link will provide an opportunity to pose questions in advance for panelists to answer during the forum. Sign Up Link
Thank you for considering this important opportunity to engage with community members and stakeholders.
Who is running this meeting?
This event is being hosted by four members of the Maryland General Assembly - Senator Bill Folden, and Delegates Jesse Pippy, April Miller and Barrie Cilliberti. They care about their constituents. They need to hear from you.
Historically, citizens tend to brush aside these types of projects. Life is busy and it's hard to make room for another meeting. Often, we’ve been assured by the “experts” that we had nothing to worry about. “Nothing to see here.” Only to find out too late that it was a terrible idea. That has not served us well in the past. And it will not serve us now.
We, the people, have the right and the obligation to direct our representatives in how to deal with such issues. This is an opportunity to help them do the job we elected them to do.
“The project will be subject to the Maryland Public Service Commission’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) process. PSEG plans to submit the Maryland CPCN application in the fourth quarter of 2024. The project is expected to go into service (when the project delivers power) in June 2027.”
This project cannot move forward without an approved application for the Maryland State CPCN mentioned above. You can help determine whether or not they gain the needed approval.
To their credit, PSEG did hold six information sessions recently – 2 in each affected county. Unfortunately, those sessions were not held until local residents began to hear about and object to this project.
Here is reaction from a Carroll County Delegate:
Local environmental groups, state delegates, and neighbors encouraged one another to show up in force at six neighborhood public listening sessions — two in Hereford, two in Westminster, and two in Brunswick — to share their concerns about the project. The one in Carroll was so crowded that people had to park on the sidewalk and the line snaked around the building. Del. Eric Bouchat, a Republican who represents the area, said he was glad that he took his Harley instead of his car; he got there 20 minutes early, and all the parking places were taken.
“I found out about this two days ago, which is not pleasing. I’ll hold my tongue about what I really think,” he said. “My constituents are very upset. This is not right. This is not how you treat them.”
Why should you care?
Transparency is not a hallmark of this project. That’s a giant red-flag and the main reason we must hold the stakeholders accountable. Neither residents nor local officials were notified. Why is that? This is another example of gross overreach by federal and state officials who must known about it. Did they believe such a huge endeavor could slip by the people? Not this time.
The Town Hall is very much in alignment with the activities of Convention of States Action. It’s a great example of how citizens can work together to rein in corporate and government overreach.
As we work to contain big government on the federal level, let’s not forget the state legislators who often aid and abet that overreach. They, too, need our direction. Getting involved with Convention of States Action is a great way to learn about what’s happening right here in our state and to join in to make an impact.
