CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The first day of testimony in the state Public Service Commission’s evidentiary hearing on the MARL transmission line project featured property owners from some of the four counties where the line is proposed to pass through.
MARL is a proposed 107.5-mile, 500-kilovolt high-voltage power line planned to run from Dunkard Township, Pa., through parts of West Virginia, including Monongalia, Preston, Mineral and Hampshire counties and down to Gore, Va.
Developer NextEra Energy is seeking certification from the state PSC.
The PSC has allowed more intervenors in this case than in recent memory. Property owners, most without attorneys, are allowed to ask witnesses questions.
PSC Chairman Charlotte Lane let it be known at the beginning of the hearing that she wanted to keep things moving.
“If another party has already adequately addressed a matter with a witness there’s no need to ask the same questions again,” Lane instructed.
NextEra Energy Senior Director on the project execution team Kaitlyn McCormick testified for most of the morning.
Many of the more than 60 interveners that pre-filed testimony represented landowners asking what purposes their property could be used for if the transmission line were constructed.
Kevin Evans was there in person. he what he referred to as a “retirement home” 41 feet of the proposed right-of-way In Hampshire County asked McCormick if she would want to live that close to a 500 KV transmission line. Evans told McCormick the offer made to him was insufficient, and he doubted she would accept a similar offer if she were in his position.
“We have a number of folks on our team that live in close proximity and I would feel comfortable outside the right-of-way,” McCormick said.
“Yeah, well, it’s really encroaching,” Evans answered.
Hampshire County resident Sarah Evans, who already has a transmission line running through her property, reacted to the testimony of Kevin Evans (not related).
“I know what it’s like to have one when I hear him say he doesn’t want to have it that close,” Evans said. “I ride horses on our land, and it’s easy to hear it, and sometimes you can feel the static from it.”
Other concerns were raised about how some current uses of property could be restricted or even completely prohibited if the line goes in. McCormick countered land could still be used.
“That could be row crops, that could be corn, that could be hay,” McCormick said. “All of that remains available, and it’s also available for recreation—walking and hunting throughout that area, but no structures are permitted.”
Landowners wanted details on what the timeline would be to make repairs if construction activity damages roads, bridges, or even water quality. McCormick testified that those plans would not be finalized until a construction contractor(s) is named.
“We have not yet prepared our restoration document, but once we bring a construction contractor on board, we will work to make sure we have some of those specific procedures outlined,” McCormick said.
Hampshire County resident and intervener Mark Haynes told McCormick the offer made to him for right-of-way usage was only good through October 26, the start of the hearings. Haynes said NextEra Energy and land agents made it clear the offer was good only through the start of the hearing, but McCormick said negotiations with landowners will continue regardless of the hearing schedule.
“That would not be correct; we’re going to continue to negotiate with landowners following the end of this proceeding and beyond,” McCormick said.
“It just sounded like a pressure tactic,” Haynes answered back.
Testimony is scheduled to resume at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at PSC headquarters in Charleston.