The cousin of accused healthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione convened what he described as the third in a series of community briefings intended to counter a sprawling federal lawsuit.
Residents of northern Baltimore County gathered this month at Hereford High School to contest the proposed Piedmont Reliability Project, a 70‑mile, 500‑kilovolt overhead power-line system slated to cut through Baltimore, Carroll and Frederick counties.
The meeting, spearheaded by Republican Del. Nino Mangione, spotlighted deep-seated concerns over property rights, environmental impact and the legitimacy of the project’s legal footing.
The developers behind the initiative, New Jersey-based PSEG Renewable Transmission, recently secured court approval to conduct “non‑invasive field surveys” on roughly 200 additional properties.
The move, coming on the heels of earlier approval to survey 91 parcels, has sparked resistance from local landowners who said the company continues to overstep without formal permits from the Maryland Public Service Commission.
Mangione convened what he described as the third in a series of community briefings intended to counter that sprawling federal lawsuit. Property owners bristled at the courts’ approval, with many asserting that the project represents an unwarranted “land grab.”
During the gathering, speakers laid out dual campaigns: The legal challenges filed both in federal court and which are covering more than 100 properties already under appeal; and separate ongoing efforts to block the transmission lines in front of state utility regulators .
Parkton’s rural setting took center stage as residents spoke about the loss of wooded buffer zones, fractured rural vistas and disrupted farmland.
They said they see the effort as a project forced upon them without adequate consultation. Placards lining local roads underscored that opposition is widespread and comes from “out‑of‑state,” referring to PSEG.
PSEG declined to attend the meeting, but the company has previously pointed to its court‑sanctioned legal right to conduct surveys.
Meanwhile, Gov. Wes Moore’s office has acknowledged resident concerns, affirming that any energy‑grid enhancements must prioritize community involvement.
Supporters of the Piedmont Reliability Project argue the new infrastructure is essential. The regional grid operator, PJM Interconnection, has warned of possible blackouts or voltage instability if the additional transmission capacity is delayed past its mid‑2027 deadline.
PSEG is slated to begin construction in early 2026, with a goal of taking service live by June 2027.
