CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of the Joint Committee on Energy got a broad overview of the transmission line projects which are on the drawing board for West Virginia. During Interim Committee meetings Tuesday lawmakers heard from PJM, operators of the electric grid in the northeast region, along with developers of the Valley North Transmission Project, DOUBS Transmission Project, and the MARL Transmission Project.
But it was the latter that drew the most attention. The MARL project will stretch from Pennsylvania to Virginia and move through West Virginia. However, there are presently no sub-stations which would allow for power to be distributed in West Virginia. Matt Pawlowski, VP Development, NextEra Energy Transmission, told lawmakers West Virginia would still benefit because of the overall stability it would provide to the grid.
“We’re investing in the future of the region’s grid. The grid has always been the backbone of the region’s economy, but it’s outdated and without modernizing it cannot keep up with the growth or support economic development in West Virginia. As we look ahead, it’s clear that strengthening the grid across the PJM footprint requires more investment,” said Pawlowski in his presentation.
Pawlowski added when questioned by lawmakers they had offered up a project to add a sub-station in West Virginia as well as a double-circuit. He said when reviewed by PJM, the project was not deemed necessary since there were no customers in the area of the sub-station. He also suggested while the plan calls for no substations in West Virginia, there are substations in Pennsylvania and in Virginia which will be very near the West Virginia line.
Lawmakers didn’t appear to be completely convinced. In fact, most were very skeptical.
“I’m all about transmission lines from John Amos and the Mitchell plant, but I also see it’s more beneficial to Virginia or Loudon County than West Virginia. Are West Virginia ratepayers going to have to pay for the power line when Virginia is going to benefit the most?” asked Senator Rupie Phillips.
Pawlowski couldn’t answer Phillips and said that is a question PJM would have to tackle.
“Even if you assume it’s a $400 or $500 Million price tag on West Virginia, compare that to the size of the regional plan itself which is $20 BILLION. On percentage, the number might not be as big as it may look,” said Dr. Sami Abdulsalam, Director of Transmission Planning for PJM Interconnection.
Monongalia County Delegate Evan Hansen quizzed Abdulsalam about cost adjustments and changing the allocation formula over who pays the cost of construction.
“I believe the states have jurisdiction over how the recovery is made on the cost they are supposed to recover,” said Abdulsalam.
Hansen asked about possible burial of the line, but Pawlowski explained because of West Virginia’s terrain and topography the cost of burial of transmission lines in our region was unfeasible.
Public comments to the PSC about the line have been overwhelmingly negative, but Pawlowski suggested to lawmakers the line was necessary and vital infrastructure.
“West Virginia’s peak electricity demand is expected to rise 8 to 12 percent in the summer and 10 to 11 percent in the winter over the next decade. The Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link is an essential solution to provide grid liability for West Virginia. Lack of reliability in the electric grid puts the national and economic security of the American people at risk. Without additional transmission expansion, West Virginia will be left behind other states in terms of economic development, jobs, and industry expansion,” he said.