Carroll Landowners Divided Over Marshals Accompanying Power Line Surveyors

Residents have mixed reactions as U.S. marshals assist with Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:49pm

A photorealistic studio still life featuring a twisted, rusted metal fence post and a surveyor's tripod, conceptually representing the tension between private property rights and government infrastructure projects.A symbolic still life captures the clash between private landowners and government power over infrastructure development.Piedmont Today

Carroll County, Maryland landowners have had varying responses to the presence of U.S. marshals accompanying surveyors onto private properties this week as part of the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project, a new high-voltage power line. While some landowners have resisted the marshals' presence, others have accepted the situation as the utility company moves forward with the controversial infrastructure project.

Why it matters

The Piedmont power line project has faced significant local opposition, with many residents concerned about the impact on property values, the environment, and the rural character of the area. The use of U.S. marshals to assist with surveying private land highlights the tensions between landowners' rights and the utility company's efforts to advance the project.

The details

This week, U.S. marshals accompanied surveyors from the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP) as they entered private properties in Carroll County to conduct assessments for the planned high-voltage power line. While some landowners cooperated with the surveyors, others refused to allow access and confronted the marshals, leading to tense standoffs.

  • The MPRP surveying and marshal activity took place this week in Carroll County, Maryland.

The players

Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP)

A utility company planning to construct a new high-voltage power line through parts of Maryland, including Carroll County.

U.S. Marshals

Federal law enforcement officers who accompanied the MPRP surveyors onto private properties in Carroll County.

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The takeaway

The mixed reactions from Carroll County landowners highlight the ongoing tensions and challenges surrounding the Piedmont power line project, as the utility company works to advance the infrastructure while facing local resistance and concerns about property rights.