Note: This article has been edited to distinguish among the different transmission line projects being considered currently.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, W.Va. –Count citizens in the Eastern Panhandle among those concerned about the impact of high voltage transmission line expansions that could affect properties in West Virginia as energy companies seek to transfer energy from its origin to power data centers in Virginia.
MetroNews has been covering a series of public meetings involving the MARL line.
Another project is First Energy’s Gore-Doubs-Goose Creek Improvements Project.
The First Energy project is set to “upgrade the company’s transmission lines in Frederick County, Clarke County, and Loudon County, Virginia, and Jefferson County, West Virginia.” It will be the subject of a public information meeting this week in Jefferson County.
Mary Gee is a property owner in Jefferson County who is part of the PJM Interconnection Transmission Proposal 2023 social media group, aimed at informing residents and pushing back at the line’s expansion.
Gee refers to the lines as “extension cords” that pass through communities and not only offer no financial benefit to citizens but stand to increase power company rates for customers.
Gee said that the company has approved another bigger project that would follow the same path as the one currently being considered.
She said the companies looking to expand the line are not thinking about property owners.
“They said going through Jefferson County was the best bang for a buck, and I was actually on that phone call and brought up the issue that they would be tearing down people’s homes in Jefferson County, both myself and my neighbors and everyone in the community, they told me that I needed to get some education and that it wasn’t important,” Gee said.
She said that there is growing opposition towards the projects. She noted that Monongalia, Mineral, Preston and Jefferson County Commission has written letters to the Public Service of West Virginia opposing the line.
Gee also said that even county representatives are against it.
“All of that is important, we have our local delegates, Chris Anders, Joe Funkhouser and Bill Ridenhour, standing against this, we have a lot of people standing up,” she said.
Gee said that one of the concerns for West Virginians is that they may end up footing the bill with no monetary advantages for the state.
“We, the people who get electric bills in West Virginia will pay for the line, utility companies are allowed to do this, there allowed to have a return on investment for each project, that is okayed through the federal energy commission,” she said. “We’re going to pay for this, this is going to cost us millions, and we will see our electric bills skyrocket.”
Gee said that it’s not too late intervene.
“This is not a done deal, the decision actually lies with the PSC and it lies with every state involved their PSC, at any time if one of the PSCs in West Virginia, Maryland, or Pennsylvania says no to this, it’s over,” she said.
She said there will be a First Energy Open House scheduled for August 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Shepherd University Wellness Center.
“We will be there earlier, we will be with signs, we will have a sign-up sheet, give us your email, get on our contact list, we want to help you because it’s all of us,” Gee said.
Gee was a guest on Friday’s episode of Panhandle Live, heard weekdays from 9 to 10 a.m. on the Panhandle News Network.
The First Energy project is a distinct project from the the proposed Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link, commonly known as MARL, a 500kV transmission line that is planned to run 105 miles, from an existing substation in Greene County PA to a connection point near Gore, VA.
A spokesperson from Next Era Energy tells MetroNews the Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link is aimed to “strengthen the electric grid and enhance reliability for home and businesses in West Virginia and neighboring states.”