NCWV residents, protests organizations prepare to take part in State PSC hearings involving MARL project
North Central West Virginia residents and protest organizations are preparing to testify before the West Virginia Public Service Commission regarding NextEra Energy's proposed MidAtlantic Resiliency Link. Over 120 individuals and county commissioners have signed on as intervenors against the 500-kilovolt transmission line, which is intended to serve data center development in Virginia. Public hearings are scheduled in Monongalia and Preston counties in June.
Residents and public officials from North Central West Virginia are preparing to speak before the State Public Service Commission (PSC) regarding the proposed MidAtlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) transmission line by NextEra Energy.
Tony Campbell, President of West Virginians Against Transmission Line Injustice (WATI), announced that more than 120 individuals from four counties, along with county commissioners, have registered as intervenors in the project. These intervenors will participate in four public hearings hosted by the West Virginia Public Service Commission, commencing on June 4. Campbell emphasized that intervenor status allows individuals to become a legal party to the case, offering an opportunity to testify directly to the PSC.
The MidAtlantic Resiliency Link is a 107.5-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line proposed to cross parts of West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Its primary purpose is to supply electricity to data center developments in Virginia. The West Virginia portion, estimated to cost around $482 million, would affect Preston, Monongalia, Mineral, and Hampshire counties. Public hearings are specifically scheduled for June 10th in Monongalia County (Morgantown) and June 11th in Preston County (Kingwood), where all three State PSC members are expected to be in attendance. Opposition remains strong, with ongoing sign-ups for intervenors ahead of the June 1st deadline.