NOTTINGHAM, MD—Seven property owners from Harford and Baltimore Counties have won “limited intervenor status” and are set to testify before the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) this week, beginning today, October 14, 2025. The residents, organized by the “No More Power Lines” group, are opposing BGE’s controversial plan to construct 29 miles of new, high-voltage transmission lines under the Brandon Shores Retirement Mitigation (BSRM) Project.
The BSRM Project is designed to import power from Pennsylvania to replace the energy lost from the impending retirement of the Brandon Shores Power Plant in Anne Arundel County. Opponents argue this will increase Maryland’s reliance on out-of-state energy and place a massive, unnecessary burden on local communities and ratepayers.
“Rather than investing in new in-state generation, the project will make Maryland increasingly dependent on out-of-state energy sources,” the group stated in a press release.
Property Rights and Public Safety at Stake
The core of the homeowners’ legal argument centers on property rights. They contend that the original 1931 deeds granted BGE rights for “an electrical transmission line”—singular—and that constructing an entirely new line constitutes an unlawful expansion of their easement rights and a trespass.
The opposition also cites a litany of public concerns, including environmental risks, diminished property values, exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs), and potential wildfire hazards. The proposed route is particularly contentious, as it cuts through Gunpowder Falls State Park and traverses the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area. Furthermore, opponents claim that eleven of the proposed monopoles exceed height standards set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) near Fallston Airport.
Local Government Opposition Ignored
The BSRM project has faced significant political pushback. The Baltimore County Council unanimously passed Resolution 37-24 (PSD) in August 2024, urging BGE to minimize community impacts and bury transmission lines where feasible, especially in parkland and wildfire-prone rural corridors. The “No More Power Lines” group asserts that BGE made “no meaningful design changes in response.”
In April 2025, Councilman David Marks introduced a second resolution, 21-25 (PDF), challenging BGE’s asserted property rights. The resolution was passed unanimously. A similar measure is scheduled to be reviewed by the Harford County Council during its legislative session this evening, October 14.
Meanwhile, the project’s estimated cost has reportedly doubled since its announcement in 2024, a financial increase that activists warn will ultimately be passed on to Maryland ratepayers through higher electric bills.
The evidentiary hearings for Case #9748 are scheduled to run through Friday, October 17, beginning daily at 10:00 a.m. Members of the public are welcome to attend the proceedings at the William Donald Schaefer Building in Baltimore. The hearings will also be livestreamed on the Maryland Public Service Commission’s YouTube channel.
Photo via Pixabay
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