MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The opposition to the Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) is growing and organizing while NextEra Energy Transmission is providing information about potential benefits to state residents.
MARL is a 105-mile, 500,000-volt transmission line originating in Greene County, Pennsylvania, going to Virginia to a substation in Gore, Virginia power to provide energy for a data center in Frederick County, Virginia, via West Virginia. Residents have opposed the project primarily because of the $450 million price tag that will be passed onto FirstEnergy customers with no apparent benefit to justify the expense.
NextEra Energy Transmission Senior Project Director Kaitlin McCormick said the company was awarded the project by electricity producer PJM after responding to their Request For Proposal (RFP) last spring. The RFP was based on an evaluation of the current system and future needs across their network.
Major changes in the Virginia power grid have been the planned reduction and ultimate elimination of fossil fuels from their energy production portfolio. Along the same timeline, demand has increased on a large scale due to a growing number of data centers that have taken up shop in northern Virginia.
“They identify potential future needs that are going to happen based on those changes that are happening to make sure there is consistent and reliable electricity to all of the 65 million PJM customers,” McCormick said Thursday on MetroNews “Talkline.”
Opposition growing
West Virginians Against Transmission Line Injustice (WATI) Director Tony Campbell said the group formed two months ago with members from Mineral and Hampshire counties. The group has held about four public meetings that have averaged about 150 attendees each that have overwhelmingly opposed the project.
“We’ve got online petitions, we have hardcopy petitions, and part of our process is to prepare for the upcoming hearing with the PSC this fall,” Campbell said Thursday on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.”
Campbell said WATI is preparing a response to be presented to the PSC later this fall. In the meantime, they are organizing meetings with state and local leaders and would like to also meet with the governor.
“We’ve talked to field representatives in his office, and they are conveying our message to him,” Campbell said. “I know he’s heard our message, and I’m sure he’s studying it, but we would like to meet with Governor Morrisey in September.”
McCormick disputed the claim there would be no benefit for ratepayers in West Virginia. She said the project would strengthen the grid, providing stability to residential and business customers throughout the state.
“Improving the electric grid in West Virginia and throughout the region is a direct benefit to West Virginia,” McCormick said. “This line can benefit all of the industries, businesses, and electric consumers in West Virginia and surrounding states.”
NextEra Energy Transmission is on the ground in the area meeting with property owners. An unidentified landowner in Monongalia County said they have been contacted by workers from the company performing initial survey work.
“Identify individuals who are willing to let us have survey permission to conduct environmental studies on their property,” McCormick said. “They’ll do the same in terms of looking at potential easement access for transmission.”