When Eminent Domain Is Imminent (Part 2)
By Rich Collins
The threat posed by MPRP is imminent. This threat is felt by all Maryland citizens irrespective of political affiliation. We don’t have time to hunker down and wait for the calvary to ride to the rescue. We are the calvary with the mission to delay the process until deregulation allows better solutions than a 67 Mile Extension Cord. The solutions require a revolution to the way government officials interfere with the way energy is generated and distributed to our citizens.
Jack Spencer grew up in Allegany County, MD. He is a fellow at the Heritage Foundation. He is an expert on Nuclear Power generation and distribution. He recently published a book entitled “Nuclear Revolution – Powering the Next Generation”. It’s available through Amazon. I encourage you to buy your own copy.
Jack Spencer states that his book, “rejects the idea that government can lead the American nuclear industry into a prosperous future… . This book is about how to build a uniquely American industry –one that is driven by competition, innovation, and entrepreneurship. It should be animated by the American spirit, molded by free enterprise, and delivered by the private sector. What we need in American nuclear power is not a renaissance but a revolution. … we first need a revolution in policy and regulation”.
Jack goes on to state: “… (the book) offers alternatives to (existing structures of policy and regulation). It argues that subsidies are counterproductive and should be eliminated. This will level the playing field for all energy sources. It then recommends a series of reforms that properly align incentives and responsibilities, allowing all energy industries to move forward according to their own merit as determined by the people and businesses that ultimately use and pay for their products”.
The Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project MDRP, (the 67 Mile Extension Cord) will provide minimal benefits to Maryland utilities and ratepayers.
Someone conjured the analogy of building a sports arena in the center of Maryland which is totally funded by its citizens to the tune of $424 million. It’s a magnificent structure. The downside is that only a small percentage of Maryland residents are allowed to enter the building to watch or participate in any event that might take place within. They will be vastly outnumbered by people who reside in other states.
An article printed on November 24, 2024 in the Frederick News-Post had the title: “MPRP is Essential to Maryland’s Energy Future”. The article was written by Jason R. Kalwa, project director of the Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG). The following is an extract from that article:
PJM has stated that a failure to respond to the need for additional transmission lines, projected increases in the amount of power used, and a lack of sufficient in-state generation facilities will impact reliability and increase congestion charges.
That’s why PJM solicited developers to build transmission lines throughout the state to ensure the grid can continue to deliver the power necessary to maintain electric reliability across Maryland.
Yikes! Just 2 months ago Mr. Kalwa, an employee of PSEG, implied that the proposed 67 Mile Extension would ensure the delivery of electricity across Maryland. I suspect that Jason would parse his statement in an effort to claim that he was not stating something untrue.
In other words, it’s true that the project will deliver electricity across Maryland. It’s just that the utilities and ratepayers in the path of the power lines will receive minimal benefit from that electricity.
It’s up to people who are appointed, (not elected) to determine if this project will receive the green light. I’d like to offer the perspective of someone who thinks about the decision makers who sit in the chairs of entities labeled with acronyms. Some of these people are fellow Marylanders. Some of them grew up in other states and came to Maryland only recently, (or never at all). Some of them have never stepped foot onto a farm.
I practice “Thread Theory”. It’s a process that involves pulling the end of a thread to see what unravels or what is revealed. Specifically, what are the entities involved in the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project and who are the people who sit in positions of power?
Let’s unravel some acronyms.
PSEG stands for Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. That’s the entity selected by PJM, (we’ll unravel PJM later). The following statement can be found at the corporate home page:
Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG) is a diversified energy company headquartered in Newark, N.J. Established in 1903, (originally named “Public Service Corporation) the company has long had a key role in fueling New Jersey's economy and supporting the state's quality of life. PSEG's principal operating subsidiaries are: Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE&G), PSEG Power and PSEG Long Island.
Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG) is a publicly traded (NYSE:PEG) diversified energy company headquartered in New Jersey, and one of the ten largest electric companies in the U.S.
Searching the website reveals that a component of PSEG is PSEG Power which is an energy supply company that owns and operates merchant nuclear generating assets and provides fuel and energy management services via its principal direct wholly owned subsidiaries. PSEG Power’s main subsidiaries include PSEG Nuclear and PSEG Energy Resources & Trade.
Among the nation's first and most successful energy trading organizations, PSEG Energy Resources & Trade operates a leading wholesale energy business in the eastern United States.
Furthermore: The PSEG Nuclear Salem and Hope Creek generating stations produce nearly half of New Jersey’s electricity and 85% of the state’s air pollution-free generation. The plants, and their more than 1,600 employees, help keep electricity rates affordable, support reliability of the grid and reduce public health costs.
According to a 2017 analysis by the Brattle Group, an economic consulting firm, these nuclear plants save New Jersey consumers more than $400 million a year compared to the alternative sources of electricity and help diversify the state’s power supply. The report concludes that replacing New Jersey’s nuclear plants would add 14 million tons of pollution a year to the state’s air. According to Brattle, this would add $733 million in annual environmental and public health costs.
An analysis by IHS Markit concluded that a reliable, resilient and cost-effective power supply is best achieved by integrating a diverse mix of fuels and technologies. A balanced portfolio of generation resources reduces the risks associated with any one source, including transportation constraints, labor strikes, price volatility, accidents and other low-probability but high-impact incidents.
We may conclude that today’s Nuclear Power generation is good for business, (my words).
Amongst the nation's first and most successful energy trading organizations, PSEG Energy Resources & Trade operates a leading wholesale energy business in the Eastern United States. As the trading arm of PSEG Power's generation assets, acquires and hedges fuel and power, economically dispatches plants and trades numerous energy-related products. PSEG Energy Resources & Trade operates from a cutting-edge trading floor at our corporate headquarters in Newark, NJ.
PSEG Energy Resources & Trade trades throughout the greater Northeast United States. We focus primarily on those areas in which our generating assets are located: PJM along with the nation's largest and most developed energy market, as well as New York and New England.
Our successful track record stems from our integrated trading/generation model, balanced asset base, varied product mix and exceptional trading team. Equipped with leading-edge technology, our trading operation uses a progressive approach to achieve consistent results.
Ralph A. LaRossa is PSEG’s Chair of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
Chair of the Board since January 1, 2023; President and Chief Executive Officer of PSEG since September 1, 2022; Chief Executive Officer of PSE&G since September 1, 2022.
LaRossa Joined PSE&G in 1985 as an associate engineer and held numerous executive and operational leadership positions across all of our business segments, including as COO of PSEG from January 2020 to August 2022, President and COO of PSEG Power from October 2017 to August 2022, and President and COO of PSE&G from October 2006 to October 2017.
BE – Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, NJ)
Susan Tomasky currently serves as Lead Independent Director of the Board of PSEG.
She lives in Columbus, Ohio & Queenstown, MD, (Queen Anne’s County)
She has held numerous leadership positions in the energy industry, government and the Ohio business community. She served in several senior executive positions at American Electric Power, including President, AEP Transmission, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, and Executive Vice President for Shared Services. Prior to that, she was engaged in private law practice in Washington, D.C., and also served as general counsel of the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, where she led efforts to craft rules establishing competitive electricity markets in the U.S.
She also serves on the Fidelity Equity and High Income Mutual Funds Board of Trustees, and the Board of Marathon Petroleum Co, where she chairs the Audit Committee. Previously, she served on the Boards of Andeavor Corp, as Lead Director and chair of the Governance Committee, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, where she chaired their Audit Review Committee. She has served on the boards of numerous community and arts organizations, including the Board of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, which she chaired for 5 years. Currently, she is serves on the Board of Trustees of Kenyon College, the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts, and the Royal Shakespeare Company-America, where she is Board President. Tomasky is a frequent speaker on energy issues, board governance and women in leadership.
Ms. Tomasky was named among the 100 Most Influential Corporate Directors in 2016 by the National Association of Corporate Directors. In 2001 and 2002, she named one of the world’s “50 key women in energy worldwide” by Commodities Now magazine. She has received numerous professional and community awards, including YWCA Woman of Achievement and the 2011 and Glass Ceiling Award from the National Diversity Council. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and received her J.D. from the George Washington National Law Center.
Ms. Tomasky has highly valuable experience in oversight of regulated business, science and environmental matters gained as General Counsel of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, (FERC). She has deep knowledge of and valuable perspective on utility management, finance, law, risk management and governmental regulation.
Kelly Ferneau is Executive Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer of American Electric Power, (AEP). She is chief nuclear officer and has oversight of AEP's Donald C. Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, Michigan.
Most recently, she was site vice president at Cook. She was responsible for day-to-day operations of the plant, including all plant production organizations, regulatory affairs, corrective action program, site protective services, emergency planning, training and document control.
Previously, she was plant manager. Ms. Ferneau joined AEP in 2013. Prior to joining AEP, she worked for Exelon at Byron Nuclear Station for 18 years, where she obtained her Senior Reactor Operator's license. She held positions in engineering, maintenance and operations. She also worked for Energy at Palisades Nuclear Station in Covert, Michigan where she held the position of assistant outage manager.
Ms. Ferneau attended Trine University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
Past news worth noting: Exelon sets Byron deactivation date as Illinois bill stalls
Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Exelon has notified transmission organization PJM Interconnection of its plan to deactivate the two Byron reactors after Illinois lawmakers adjourned without reaching an agreement on clean energy legislation that would have enabled the plants to continue operating. The bill could still pass later this summer.
What is PJM?
Started in 1927, the organization was renamed the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection (PJM) in 1956. PJM continues to integrate additional utility transmission systems into its operations.
PJM, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, was the world's largest competitive wholesale electricity market until the development of the European Integrated Energy Market in the 2000s.[4] More than 1,000 companies are members of PJM, which serves 65 million people and has 185 gigawatts of generating capacity. With 1,436 electric power generators and 85,103 miles of transmission lines, PJM delivered 783 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2021.[5]
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulates PJM and approves its open access transmission tariff for the wholesale electricity market.
PJM is a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia.
The 10 members of the PJM Board of Managers, (listed below) are responsible for maintaining PJM's independence and, by exercising their prudent business judgment, ensuring that PJM fulfills its business obligations and legal and regulatory requirements.
The Board also is responsible for ensuring that PJM maintains the reliability of the power grid and operates a robust, competitive and non-discriminatory electric power market, preventing any market participants from having undue influence over the operation of PJM.
Manu Asthana President & CEO – PJM Interconnection
Contact Manu Asthana
PJM Interconnection
PO Box 1525
Southeastern, PA 19399-1525
Manu Asthana oversees the largest power grid in North America and one of the largest electricity markets in the world. Asthana joined PJM in January 2020. Under his leadership, he has implemented significant risk management reforms and established a clear path for defining the grid operator’s role in the energy transition to a cleaner, more efficient grid while maintaining reliable electric service. Asthana has extensive leadership experience, including 21 years across the electricity industry, including power generation operations, optimization and dispatch, competitive retail electricity, electricity and natural gas trading, and risk management.
Mr. Asthana earned a Bachelor of Science in economics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Benjamin Franklin Scholar and a Joseph Wharton Scholar.
Christopher O’Hara
Sr. Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary & Chief Compliance Officer
PJM Interconnection
PO Box 1525
Southeastern, PA 19399-1525
Email: christopher.ohara@pjm.com
Christopher O’Hara is responsible for PJM’s legal operations, including all of the company’s regulatory, litigation and commercial needs. He provides legal counsel and strategic advice to PJM’s Senior Management Team and assists in the creation of legal and regulatory strategies, as well as the execution of the regional transmission organization’s objectives. O’Hara additionally serves as counsel and secretary to PJM’s independent Board of Managers and sits on the board of PJM Technologies Inc., a PJM subsidiary.
Before joining PJM in 2017, O’Hara worked for twelve years for NRG Energy serving as its chief compliance officer and as the general counsel of various businesses/regions, while also leading the corporation law department on an interim basis. O’Hara also had extensive private law firm experience in the energy field. He has represented a diverse spectrum of energy sector clients, including municipalities, cooperatives, industrials and other market participants, in all aspects of their businesses.
Mr. O’Hara has served on the board of the North American Energy Standards Board and is admitted to the practice of law in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Texas.
Mr. O’Hara received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland.
Terry Blackwell
Chair | Reliability & Security Committee
Member | Board Governance Committee, Human Resources Committee, Finance Committee
Contact Terry Blackwell
PJM Interconnection
PO Box 1525
Southeastern, PA 19399-1525
Terry Blackwell has 36 years of experience in power system planning and operation. Most recently, he held the position of senior vice president of Power Delivery at Santee Cooper, where he had overall responsibility for Santee Cooper's transmission system, including compliance with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s Reliability Standards. Blackwell also served as chair of the SERC Board and served on other SERC Board committees. The SERC Reliability Corporation (SERC) is responsible for ensuring a reliable and secure electric grid across 16 southeastern and central states. The SERC region lies within the Eastern Interconnection, and includes the states of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and portions of Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, and Florida.
Mr. Blackwell has a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from North Carolina State University and is a licensed professional engineer in South Carolina.
Paula Conboy
Chair | Regulatory Committee
Member | Board Governance Committee, Competitive Markets Committee, Finance Committee
Contact Paula Conboy
PJM Interconnection
PO Box 1525
Southeastern, PA 19399-1525
Paula Conboy is an energy economist with more than 25 years of experience as an executive, consultant and regulator in Canada, Australia and Singapore. She currently sits on the boards of directors at the Energy Market Authority of Singapore and Zen Energy Pty Ltd. She recently served as chair of the Australian Energy Regulator and board member of the Australian Energy Security Board, established to help steer the transformation of the Australian energy sector.
Ms. Conboy holds undergraduate and master's degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Guelph, Ontario (Canada) and the GAICD designation from the Australian Institute of Corporate Directors. She is also certified by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).
Jeanine Johnson
Chair | Nominating Committee
Member | Reliability & Security Committee, Risk & Audit Committee, Human Resources Committee
Contact Jeanine Johnson
PJM Interconnection
PO Box 1525
Southeastern, PA 19399-1525
Jeanine Johnson brings over two decades of experience designing products and managing cybersecurity at NETGEAR, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and others through McKinsey & Co. Johnson's hands-on technology and strategy leadership led to being short-listed as "Entrepreneur of the Year" at Silicon Valley's Women in IT Awards for co-founding SunToWater.com, which is commercializing a device that uses patented technology to create drinking water from outdoor air. She previously won first prize for the concept at Singularity University's Impact Challenge to solve California's water shortages.
Ms. Johnson earned two Bachelor of Science degrees, in computer science and engineering, from the University of Missouri, and an MBA from Cornell University.
Margaret Loebl
Chair | Risk & Audit Committee
Member | Competitive Markets Committee, Regulatory Committee
Contact Margaret Loebl
PJM Interconnection
PO Box 1525
Southeastern, PA 19399-1525
Margaret Loebl most recently served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. She has over 30 years of professional experience holding executive employment with Fortune 500 companies in the areas of finance, accounting and risk management. With six years of CFO experience in complex global environments, Loebl has worked closely with the boards of AgroFresh, Quaker Chemical Corporation and TechTeam Global on acquisitions, strategy, controls infrastructure and risk management while they confronted transformational events within the companies or disruptions in the economic markets, such as the 2008 financial crisis and increasing shareholder activism.
Previously, Ms. Loebl held officer positions in finance with Archer Daniels Midland Company, Nike, Inc. and General Motors Corporation.
Ms. Loebl holds a Bachelor of Arts in German from Wellesley College and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
David E Mills
Chair | Competitive Markets Committee
Member | Risk & Audit Committee, Human Resources Committee, Nominating Committee
Contact David E. Mills
PJM Interconnection
PO Box 1525
Southeastern, PA 19399-1525
David E. Mills is an energy consultant with a demonstrated track record of strategic leadership in the power and natural gas industries. He is the former senior vice president of policy and energy supply with Puget Sound Energy, where he also served as chief strategy officer. Mills previously worked for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Mills is a veteran of the United States Navy, serving as a helicopter aircrewman and rescue swimmer from 1975 to 1979.
Mr. Mills holds a Bachelor of Science in economics from Portland State University and is certified by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).
O.H. Dean Oskvig
Member | Board Governance Committee, Reliability & Security Committee, Regulatory Committee
Contact O.H. Dean Oskvig
PJM Interconnection
PO Box 1525
Southeastern, PA 19399-1525
O.H. Dean Oskvig has more than 40 years of experience within the energy industry and served as president and chief executive officer of Black & Veatch Energy from 2006 to 2015, having been with the organization since 1975. From 1972 to 1975, he served as a base civil engineering officer in the United States Air Force.
Mr. Oskvig earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Iowa and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Utah. He is certified by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).
Charles F. Robinson
Chair | Board Governance Committee
Member | Competitive Markets Committee, Nominating Committee
Contact Charles F. Robinson
PJM Interconnection
PO Box 1525
Southeastern, PA 19399-1525
Charles F. Robinson serves as the vice president of legal affairs and general counsel for the Regents of the University of California, where he is the chief legal officer. He previously served for seven years as vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for the California ISO. Prior to that, Robinson was assistant general counsel and director of litigation for Packard Bell NEC, division counsel for Raychem Corporation, and was a partner at the Heller Herman White and McAuliffe law firm.
He graduated with his Juris Doctor from Yale University and earned his Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University.
Mark Takahashi
Chair | PJM Board of Managers
Contact Mark Takahashi
PJM Interconnection
PO Box 1525
Southeastern, PA 19399-1525
Mark Takahashi serves as chair of the PJM Board of Managers. He previously served as chief financial officer of Ascendant Group Limited, parent company of Bermuda Electric Light Company Limited. Prior to that, he was group director and chief financial officer of CLP Holdings Limited, one of two vertically integrated electric utility companies in Hong Kong, from 2008 to 2014, having been with the organization since 2003.
Mr. Takahashi earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Colorado and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Vickie A. VanZandt
Chair | Human Resources Committee
Member | Reliability & Security Committee, Risk & Audit Committee
Contact Vickie A. VanZandt
PJM Interconnection
PO Box 1525
Southeastern, PA 19399-1525
Vickie A. VanZandt is an energy consultant and president of VanZandt Electric Transmission Consulting, Inc. Previously, she served as senior vice president and chief engineer of transmission services of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) where she was responsible for the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, marketing and management of the high-voltage transmission system covering four states in the Pacific Northwest. VanZandt previously served on the ISO New England Board of Directors.
Ms. VanZandt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington, is a registered professional engineer and life member of the IEEE, and has been inducted into the National Academy of Engineering. She is certified by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).
Frederick H. Hoover, Chair
Frederick H. Hoover was appointed Chair of the Maryland Public Service Commission by Governor Wes Moore for a five-year term beginning on July 1, 2023.
He most recently served as Assistant People’s Counsel in the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, representing residential consumers of public utilities, retail energy suppliers and other entities before the Maryland Public Service Commission, courts and federal agencies.
Chair Hoover served for more than seven years as director of the Maryland Energy Administration, responsible for coordinating energy policy for the state of Maryland. He subsequently held positions as director of both MEA’s Division of Energy Programs and Division of Renewable Energy. He is a former senior director of the National Association of State Energy Officials, where he directed the electricity policy program including the fuel and grid aspects of both transmission and distribution networks including modernization, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.
Chair Hoover was a founding board member of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, an organization dedicated to holding elected officials at the legislative and executive level accountable for environmental issues. He was a member of the Maryland Cybersecurity Council.
He serves on the Board of Directors for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and is a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Committee on Consumers and the Public Interest and the Committee on Electricity. He was recently appointed to NARUC’s Washington Actions Program, the group that represents NARUC’s interests before federal executive and legislative entities.
A resident of Annapolis, Maryland, Chair Hoover earned his law degree from the University of Baltimore, and a bachelor’s degree from Mount Saint Mary’s University. He also completed Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Education Program in Economics and Environment.
(410) 767-8073
Michael T. Richard
Michael T. Richard was first appointed to the Maryland Public Service Commission in January 2016 and reappointed in 2020. Prior to his appointment, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Larry Hogan, advising the Governor on a portfolio of issues and helping to manage cabinet agencies that included Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Lottery and Gaming, Natural Resources and Transportation.
Commissioner Richard worked for more than 10 years at the Nuclear Energy Institute as Legislative Programs Director and Congressional Information Program Director. He then served in Governor Robert Ehrlich’s administration as Deputy Secretary of Appointments and as Director of the Maryland Energy Administration.
In 2005, he was appointed to a post at the U.S. Department of Energy—first serving as Executive Director of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board and later as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs where his issues included nuclear energy, radioactive waste management, and legacy environmental remediation. In 2008, Commissioner Richard was hired by Westinghouse Electric Company as Director of Government and International Affairs. He rejoined Maryland state government in 2015.
Commissioner Richard is a past President of the Organization of PJM States, Inc. (OPSI) and currently serves as its Treasurer, is a member of the Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment and the Committee on Critical Infrastructure for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), and was appointed by Governor Hogan as the Commission’s representative on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission (WMATC), where he serves as Vice-Chairman.
Commissioner Richard earned his B.A. from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland, College Park. He attended a French language program at L’Université Laval in Québec City, Canada. Commissioner Richard lives in Fort Washington, Maryland.
(410) 767-8116
Kumar P. Barve
Kumar P. Barve was appointed to the Maryland Public Service Commission in May 2023 by Governor Wes Moore, to fill out a term ending in June 2024. He was later appointed to a new five-year term to begin July 1, 2024. Prior to his appointment, he had served in the Maryland House of Delegates since 1991, holding leadership roles including Chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee, Majority Leader, and Chair of the Montgomery County House delegation. While in the General Assembly he worked on issues including environmental regulation, energy generation and conservation, and greenhouse gas reduction. Notably, he was the first Indian-American in the country to be elected to a state legislature.
As a legislator, Commissioner Barve was the recipient of the Casper R. Taylor, Jr. Award in 2023; Certificate of Appreciation from the Maryland Municipal League in 2007, 2010 and 2011; Maryland Super Star from the Maryland Municipal League in 2008; and Legislator of the Year from the Montgomery County Medical Society in 1995, 1996 and 2000.
Commissioner Barve is a member of the Committee on International Relations and the Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).
A graduate of Paint Branch High School in Silver Spring, Commissioner Barve received a B.S. in Accounting from Georgetown University. He is a resident of Rockville, Maryland.
(410) 767-8017
Bonnie A. Suchman
Bonnie A. Suchman was appointed to the Maryland Public Service Commission in June 2023 by Governor Wes Moore. Commissioner Suchman was most recently the owner of Suchman Law LLC and has more than 35 years of experience in the energy field, representing clients on a broad range of issues including transmission policy and regulation, reliability and cybersecurity, cross-border transmission permitting, distributed generation, and renewable energy financing mechanisms.
Prior to opening her own law firm, she was counsel at Troutman Sanders LLP and was special counsel for electric utility restructuring at the Department of Energy. She had a principal role in the drafting of both the Clinton administration’s Comprehensive Electricity Competition Plan and the legislation implementing the provisions of the plan. She was also a senior attorney at the Edison Electric Institute and an associate at Webster & Fredrickson, a law firm representing the D.C. Public Service Commission.
Commissioner Suchman serves as a member of the Committee on Critical Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).
A resident of Potomac, Maryland, Commissioner Suchman is a graduate of Bard College and the George Washington University Law School, and is a member of the D.C. and Maryland bars.
(410) 767-8116
Maryland Public Service Commission in recent news:
PSEG, the developer of this project, filed an application on December 31, 2024 with the Public Service Commission for authority to build a project (known as a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, or CPCN). Hearings/information sessions being held by the developer are part of PSEG’s pre-application process, which the Commission does not oversee.
The CPCN process would include public hearings, held by the Commission, in the areas where the project is proposed to be constructed. The Commission will provide notice of its hearings and other proceedings on its website (psc.state.md.us), through the news media and social media channels.
PSEG Files Application on New Years Eve
“Approval application filed on New Year's Eve for Maryland's controversial Piedmont Reliability Project”
By: Ryan Dickstein, WMAR Local News
Posted 1:26 PM, Dec 31, 2024 and last updated 9:22 PM, Dec 31, 2024
BALTIMORE — It's been the subject of major concern for residents in at least three Maryland Counties.
The prospect of giant power lines cutting across their land has sparked fierce push back among many.
But now it could be just a matter of time before the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project becomes a reality.
PSEG Renewable Transmission LLC filed an application on New Year's Eve, seeking approval from the Maryland Public Service Commission to build a high-voltage transmission line.
If the commission grants a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, the project would be green lit despite objections from several communities and lawmakers.
Officials say new power lines are needed by 2027, or else Maryland and other states could face "widespread and severe reliability problems."
“This project is needed to preserve grid reliability for Maryland consumers as electricity demand increases and generation resources are retiring both in the state and in the broader PJM region. Transmission overloads this severe can lead to widespread and extreme conditions such as system collapse and blackouts if not addressed,” said Paul McGlynn, Vice President of PJM, the independent Regional Transmission Organization responsible for operating and planning Maryland's electric grid. “The MPRP was selected because it solves the reliability need with the least amount of infrastructure development required, has cost containment in place, and is slated to have a much stronger system performance than any other alternative.”
PJM announced today that Vice President of Planning Paul McGlynn is retiring from the organization effective March 31, 2025, after nearly four decades in the industry.
PJM also announced that Jason Connell is being appointed Vice President – Planning, to fill the role vacated by McGlynn’s retirement. Connell’s promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025, to provide time to transition duties in a seamless manner.
“We are excited to welcome Jason to PJM’s Executive Team,” said Khan. “Jason brings strong planning experience and leadership capabilities to ensure a smooth transition and to manage the evolving needs of the PJM grid.”
Connell has worked at PJM for over 12 years in various roles in System Planning. Prior to joining PJM, Connell had a successful career at PECO in transmission and substation engineering. He has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Drexel University and an MBA from Villanova University. “This is an incredibly dynamic time to be planning for the evolution of this industry,” Connell said. “I am excited to support and continue PJM’s important work to design and manage the grid of the future while preserving reliability.”
PJM determined through its federally regulated regional transmission expansion planning process that the MPRP is critically needed to prevent severe, extensive, and widespread reliability violations on the existing 500 kV transmission system that serves Maryland and its surrounding states,” according to the application’s cover letter. “If unaddressed, these violations could compromise overall system reliability in the PJM region, including for Maryland customers, and could lead to widespread and extreme conditions in 2027, such as system collapse and blackouts.”
The project has been controversial since it was announced. Carroll County lawmakers say it threatens the environment; would increase local energy costs; would result in a loss of farmland and revenue for farmers; would be disruptive; and would have other consequences.
One measure proposed by Sen. Chris West would allow electric companies to own and operate their own power-generating facilities. West said building additional power generation capacity in the right places will negate the need to construct additional power transmission lines through rural Maryland.
Another of West’s proposed bills would change the way eminent domain works in Maryland, banning quick-take authority for any land under a preservation or conservation easement, requiring compensation to reflect land value diminution for land-owners within 150 feet of any land acquired through eminent domain to install a power line, paying for attorney and court-related expenses for any land owner that wins a case challenging their valuation, according to West.
“I’ll be co-sponsoring bipartisan bills to restrict usage of eminent domain to take private property for corporate profits,” Sen. Justin Ready said, “and legislation to slow this process down so we can get a full, impartial analysis of Maryland’s energy production and grid needs before any action takes place on MPRP.”
West proposed another measure that would have the Maryland Public Service Commission require a grid optimization study to be conducted, “evaluating the potential for increasing the capacity and efficiency of the state’s existing transmission and distribution infrastructure” before a project can be approved, according to West. The study would deduce the potential for increasing capacity by using advanced technologies, optimizing existing transmission lines, reducing load on the grid, and improving energy efficiency to reduce demand. The public and the Office of People’s Counsel would have the opportunity to comment on the study before the commission determines if the applicant is compliant with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s terms.
Another of West’s proposed bills would call on the Maryland Public Service Commission and the Maryland Energy Administration to, “establish a plan to gradually phase out Maryland’s natural gas energy generation facilities,” only after Maryland can meet half of its energy needs using renewable sources like wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal and nuclear power, according to West.
“Our state’s energy crisis will be the next most important issue,” Del. Chris Tomlinson said. “Over the course of many years, Maryland lawmakers have passed policies that make it nearly impossible to create or produce reliable sources of energy. Everything from closing coal power plants to limiting natural gas production to irresponsible ‘climate’ goals that require drastic reduction in production. At the same time, new energy sources such as wind and solar are unable to produce equal amounts of energy. As a result, our state is forced to import energy from states that still generate energy the old-fashioned way [coal, natural gas, etc.].”
One bill, also proposed by West, would direct the Maryland Public Service Commission to refrain from approving any new power line projects until May 1, 2026. In that time, a 21-member task force would be assembled to ensure reliable energy access to Marylanders while planning to reduce the amount of energy imported from out-of-state.
The proposed task force — composed of a representative from the House of Delegates, one member of the state Senate, the secretary of the Environment, the secretary of Agriculture, the Maryland Energy Administration, the People’s Counsel, the Public Service Commission, PJM, Baltimore Gas & Electric, Constellation Energy Corporation, Potomac Electric Power, Potomac Edison, Delmarva Power & Light, Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative, Maryland’s independent electricity generating companies, the Maryland Farm Bureau, environmental nonprofit organizations, Maryland ratepayers, and one energy expert appointed by the governor — would report to the governor by Dec. 31, 2025.
“Among the options that shall be considered by the Task Force shall be the expansion of the state’s nuclear energy generation capability, the expansion of the state’s renewable energy resources, the prioritization of energy storage facilities and the upgrading and enhancement of the state’s existing electricity transmission system,” according to West.
“The Data Center Energy Independence Act” is another of West’s proposed bills that would require any data center constructed in Maryland that uses more than 20 megawatts of electrical power per year to build and operate a power-generation facility capable of meeting the entirety of the data center’s energy needs, according to West.
“Our energy demand has increased due to AI technology/data centers,” Tomlinson said, “and the electrification of everything from cars to buildings to leaf blowers. As a result, our state is facing an energy crisis of epic proportions. And the direct result of these terrible politics is the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project that looks to tear Baltimore, Carroll, and Frederick counties in half. The House Republican Caucus, including me personally, will be introducing several bills that look to address this specific transmission line and the overall problem our state faces.”
Another end to a thread shall be pulled at this point. The Ohio connection led me to discover who my transplanted Ohio friends have for their US Congressman. By coincidence it turns out to be Rep. Byron Donalds (R) who represents their district on the west coast of Florida. The real coincidence can be found in the legislation that Donalds sponsored:
Washington, July 18, 2023
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) introduced the 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th bills of the 2023-24 Donalds Nuclear Energy Package. These bills include H.R. 4674 – The Advanced Nuclear Feasibility Act, H.R. 4675 – The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Reform Act, H.R. 4676 – The Nuclear Red Tape Reduction Act, H.R. 4677 – The Leverage Obligated Appropriations for Advanced Nuclear (LOAN) Act, and H.R. 4678 – The Provide Logistical Airport Aid Via Advanced Nuclear Energy (PLANE) Act. Congressman Donalds released the following statement:
"Throughout the first seven months of the 118th Congress, I have worked hard to elevate the role of nuclear within the arsenal of American energy. Not only is nuclear the cleanest and greenest source of energy at our country's disposal, but it is an invaluable asset that we must utilize in order to efficiently power the future of our nation. My now twenty-bill and growing, nuclear energy legislative package promotes this critical and under-utilized solution to America's current and future energy demands.
"My five most recent bills seek to facilitate the licensing and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors, reduce licensing costs, slash unnecessary bureaucratic red tape, and establish regulatory clarity. They also include provisions to bolster efficiency and effectiveness within the nuclear energy industry by consolidating and streamlining various antiquated processes. Most importantly, I offered a proposal to encourage airports to consider using microreactors for back-up power in the case of natural disasters. As Southwest Florida's representative in the halls of Congress, the constant threat of hurricanes is an all-too-real threat for our community. Nuclear energy provides practical and commonsense solutions for our community, our state, and our nation. I look forward to further exploring the benefits of this technology."
A pull of the thread reveals that Harrison Fields was the longtime Press Secretary for U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds. In 2024, Fields took skills to the Heritage Foundation.
In 2019 and 2020, Fields worked in the White House during President Donald Trump’s administration as a writer and later as Assistant Press Secretary. He also has a background in state politics in Florida, working as Communications Coordinator for then Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi in 2018.
Now that the Heritage Foundation has been revealed, we discover the name of Jack Spencer
who is a Senior Research Fellow for Energy and Environmental Policy in the Center for Energy, Climate, and Environment at The Heritage Foundation. He previously oversaw research on a wide range of domestic economic and trade issues as Vice President for the Institute for Economic Freedom and Opportunity.
Before his promotion to Vice President in January 2015, Spencer served as Director of the Roe Institute, where he spearheaded research initiatives on federal spending, taxes, regulation, energy and environment. Previously, he specialized in nuclear energy issues in both the domestic and global arenas as Heritage’s Senior Research Fellow in Nuclear Energy Policy. Spencer was Heritage’s go-to expert on nuclear waste management, technological advances, industry subsidies, and international approaches to nuclear energy.
I purchased Jack Spencer’s book entitled Nuclear Revolution, Powering the Next Generation.
I then reached out to ask for a conversation. He was most cordial over our 60-minute electronic conversation. Jack grew up in Allegany County. He graduated from Frostburg University.
There is so much material that Jack covers in his book. He proclaims that nuclear power WILL become vital to our economy. Politicians must remove the regulations and subsidies to create an even playing field for modern nuclear technology. Remember that when people say the cost of building nuclear reactors is too high compared to solar or wind.
Stop MPRP, Inc Executive Director: Joanne Frederick
Meet Joanne Frederick and Mark Aitken who appeared on an Armstrong Williams podcast. Watch it by entering the following into your browser:
(if you’re watching on a phone device, be patient … it takes over 1 minute to load).
