CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Public Service Commission says it will make a decision on the MARL transmission line project by March 2027.
The commission recently issued an order detailing the schedule for its consideration of the 107.5-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line proposed to pass through several West Virginia counties on its way from Pennsylvania to Maryland.
The MidAtlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) being developed by NextEra Energy Transmission. NextEra is seeking a siting application from the PSC.
The PSC has set a deadline for June 1 for intervenors in the case.
Six days are set aside for an evidentiary hearing before the PSC in Charleston beginning Oct. 26 through Oct. 30 and then continuing the following Monday, Nov. 2 if needed.
Proposed orders in the case are due on Nov. 23 with a decision due date from PSC set for March 6, 2027.
NextEra made its originally filing with the commission in February. Kaitlin McCormick, a senior director on the development team for NextEra Energy, said at the time the filing can be a resource for the public trying to better understand the project
Speaking in terms of people in each state affected by the project, she said, “This is a very transparent process that the public can go and track the docket in each of the respective commissions and each of those commissions will identify their own procedural schedule and opportunities for public engagement as part of that process.”
McCormick continued by saying the filing is loaded with information.
“This is a robust filing that is hitting the docket, and that does include a detailed routing study that we’ve mentioned in the public before. That routing study documents the selection of our proposed route as well as route alternatives,” she said.
The PSC has already received hundreds comments about the project with the large majority being against it.
The scheduling order also grants intervenor status to the Consumer Advocate Division, the Intervenor Group, West Virginians Against Transmission Injustice, West Virginia Energy Users Group, the Hampshire County Commission and the Preston County Commission.