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Protected Maryland Wildlands At Stake In Laws For Electric Power Line
Opposition is growing in Maryland against legislative efforts to enable the construction of electric transmission lines through protected wildlands. Conservationists, local residents, and business leaders are banding together to urge lawmakers to reconsider the proposals.
The Maryland General Assembly has been debating two bills, HB1270 and SB 399, which would clear the way for NextEra Energy Resources to build high-voltage transmission lines across pristine areas in Western Maryland. The move has sparked intense opposition from environmental groups, local forestry boards, and tourism industry representatives.
Opponents of the legislation argue that construction of the transmission lines would result in irreversible harm to these wildlands, which provide habitat for rare species and support significant economic activity through wildlife watching and ecotourism. They also suggest alternative routes or technologies could achieve the same energy infrastructure goals without compromising protected areas.
“We cannot let corporate interests override our responsibility to protect the natural beauty and biodiversity of Maryland’s wild lands,” said David Mosher, president of the Sierra Club’s Maryland chapter. “These protected areas are essential for our state’s economy and our environment.”
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/noelfletcher/2025/03/26/protected-maryland-wildlands-at-stake-in-laws-for-electric-power-line/
