Maryland farmers battle data center power line

Across rural Maryland, a $424 million plan to run a 67-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line has ignited fierce resistance from farmers who say towers would threaten crops and agritourism. PSEG, building the PJM-backed Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project, cites soaring data center demand and warns of grid congestion and possible brownouts by 2027. Lawsuits over survey access, accusations of threats, and a denied request for US marshals have deepened tensions, while local officials in three counties oppose the route. With state approval not expected until 2027, landowners appeal to Gov. Wes Moore and President Donald Trump as uncertainty drags on.