By Michael Phillips
In a blow to private landowners and local government oversight, a federal judge has ruled in favor of Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), granting the utility company temporary access to over 90 private properties in Maryland to conduct survey work tied to the controversial Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP).
The decision means that PSEG can immediately begin entering landowner property with only 24 hours’ notice, delivered by taping a notice to the front door. No warrant. No owner permission. No accountability. Just corporate boots on the ground, with the blessing of the federal bench.
And it’s not just residents who are outraged—local officials are, too.
Carroll County Responds: “Disheartened”
In a public statement released this evening, the Carroll County Board of Commissioners (BoC) expressed serious concern over the court’s decision:
“The Carroll County Board of Commissioners is disheartened to learn this evening that a federal judge ruled in favor of the Public Service Energy Group (PSEG), granting them temporary access to private land. PSEG has filed for temporary right of entry to 90 private properties.”
🔗 Read the full BoC statement
The Commissioners had previously advocated on behalf of landowners and called for transparency and restraint from federal and corporate actors. This ruling directly undercuts their efforts—and puts Carroll County on the frontlines of a growing battle between property rights and corporate energy interests.
Trump’s First Test on Land Rights?
Just five months into his historic second term, President Donald J. Trump now finds himself at the intersection of two core conservative values: energy reliability and property rights. Trump campaigned on protecting landowners, cracking down on bureaucratic overreach, and restoring constitutional order.
Now, as PSEG steamrolls into rural communities backed by federal authority, the question is loud and clear: Will Trump intervene—or stay silent?
What the Ruling Allows
- Immediate entry onto over 90 private properties
- Only 24 hours’ notice required—via a taped note
- Access remains active until the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) approves or denies the project
This is not a final decision on the MPRP itself. But it is a pre-emptive strike that allows PSEG to scout and prepare for a project that hasn’t been lawfully approved—a move many consider a violation of Fifth Amendment protections against unlawful takings.
Read the court documents here:
Court Ruling – MPRP Land Access
A Line in the Sand
This ruling doesn’t just affect Carroll County. It sets a dangerous precedent across Maryland, and perhaps even the nation: Corporate utilities can claim temporary access to your land before the public even has a say in whether a project should happen at all.
If survey rights can be forced on 90 private families today, full-scale construction could be forced on 900 tomorrow.
The People Fight Back
Grassroots group Stop MPRP, Inc. immediately condemned the ruling and vowed to continue challenging it through all available legal, political, and community channels.
“We are deeply disappointed, but our fight is far from over. We will continue to explore every legal, legislative, and grassroots opportunity to challenge this dangerous and unnecessary project.”
Call to Action
This is a pivotal moment. Here’s how you can take a stand:
- Call your local representatives, especially at the county and state level.
- Demand Governor Moore and President Trump clarify their positions.
- Support Stop MPRP’s legal fund and attend upcoming PSC hearings.
- Raise public awareness by sharing news and educating neighbors.
Final Thoughts
The right to own and control one’s land is a cornerstone of American liberty. Today, that cornerstone cracked. The Biden-era judiciary may have issued the ruling, but the enforcement now falls under the Trump administration.
President Trump, we supported you because you promised to protect America’s heartland. Now’s the time to prove it.
If PSEG can open your gates today, they can bulldoze your fences tomorrow.
This is the battle for the soul of rural Maryland. And it’s just beginning.
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