Maryland Senate President Criticizes BGE's South Baltimore Project

Ferguson says planned transmission line route through historic neighborhoods is "wholly unacceptable"

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson is speaking out against Baltimore Gas & Electric's planned Peninsula Project in South Baltimore, saying the project's costs have ballooned and the proposed route through historic neighborhoods is unacceptable. Ferguson is calling for oversight hearings and legislation to hold BGE accountable.

Why it matters

The Peninsula Project is a major infrastructure upgrade planned by BGE to improve energy reliability in South Baltimore. However, the escalating costs and the proposed routing through historic residential areas have drawn strong opposition from state lawmakers like Ferguson, who are concerned about the project's impact on local communities.

The details

Ferguson questioned why the transmission line route was chosen to go through historic neighborhoods like Otterbein and Ridgely's Delight instead of commercial corridors where conduit already exists. He said there was not enough community engagement to discuss alternatives. BGE has cited increased labor and material costs, as well as engineering redesigns, as reasons for the project's ballooning budget.

  • The Peninsula Project has been planned by BGE for years.

The players

Bill Ferguson

The President of the Maryland Senate, who is speaking out against BGE's planned Peninsula Project in South Baltimore.

Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE)

The utility company planning the Peninsula Project to improve energy reliability in South Baltimore.

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What they’re saying

“Why are routes going through historic neighborhoods like Otterbein and Ridgely's Delight? Why were they chosen over commercial corridors in which conduit already exists?”

— Bill Ferguson, Maryland Senate President (WBAL)

“There was not a plan for meaningful community engagement to discuss alternatives.”

— Bill Ferguson, Maryland Senate President (WBAL)

What’s next

Ferguson is calling for oversight hearings and legislation to hold BGE accountable for the Peninsula Project.

The takeaway

This dispute over BGE's Peninsula Project highlights the tensions that can arise when major infrastructure projects are planned without adequate community input, especially when they impact historic neighborhoods. Lawmakers are demanding more transparency and accountability from the utility company.