West Virginia’s future is directly tied to the energy industry, producing and distributing the energy that will power the advanced technology that will drive the United States’ economy. That future is also connected to upgrading aging energy infrastructure and improving grid reliability, which a recent survey found most West Virginians support.
However, general support for projects to upgrade the grid and improve reliability should not be interpreted as widespread support for any specific project.
The survey conducted by MBE Research and sponsored by West Virginians for Reliable and Affordable Energy polled 604 registered voters and concluded that most people agree the state’s electric grid must adapt to the rising demands. The survey found 95 percent of voters believe elected officials should prioritize updating the grid. Results also showed that 65 percent of voters would support candidates who prioritize grid upgrades.
The survey also examined responses specifically from Monongalia, Preston, Hampshire, and Mineral Counties, which would be impacted by the proposed Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link. The controversial Next Era Energy project is a 500-kilovolt line that spans 107 miles, from Pennsylvania to Virginia, slicing through West Virginia.
The survey found that 68 percent of respondents in the four counties in MARL’s path said grid upgrades should be a “very important priority.”
“So it’s the exact same as the whole of West Virginia. Support is as strong in the areas most impacted by some of these projects as it is in areas where maybe there’s not discussion of upgraded grid modernization,” said Mark Blankenship, CEO of MBE Research on Monday’s Metronews Talkline.
One could infer from the results that there is broad support in the affected counties for energy infrastructure upgrades.
However, the survey only asked for voters’ general thoughts on grid reliability and did not ask specifically about MARL.
“We asked voters in that area if they supported, you know, kind of these more general things. And like I said, it was 68 percent in that area in Monongalia, Preston, Mineral and Hampshire Counties. Sixty-eight percent said they’d be more likely to support a candidate who supports those kinds of projects,” said Blankenship.
The broad generalization that voters in those counties would support such projects is in stark contrast to overwhelming public opposition to MARL. As of February, the West Virginia Public Service Commission had received nearly 4,000 letters opposing the project.
There were just 12 letters supporting the project, and only one of the letters of support came from one of the impacted counties.
Local elected officials are also opposing the project. The Monongalia County Commission is expected to file as an intervener with the PSC in the case and will not be alone. Groups opposing the project have already held informational sessions to assist residents in filing as interveners.
Two things can be true at the same time.
West Virginians can generally support the idea of upgrading the grid to ensure future reliability while opposing specific projects, such as MARL, that have little direct benefit to West Virginia residents.