MARL executive talks issues with The Dominion Post
NextEra Energy's MidAtlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) Project, a power transmission line partly aimed at serving data centers in Virginia's Loudoun County, is facing significant public opposition in West Virginia, where public comment hearings are underway. Residents have filed thousands of protest letters, primarily concerned that the line acts as a pass-through for power. NextEra's VP addressed these concerns, discussing project benefits, costs, and potential for a new West Virginia substation.
The MidAtlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) Project, a 107.5-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line developed by NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic, is facing strong public opposition in West Virginia ahead of public comment hearings in Morgantown and Kingwood. Matt Pawlowski, Vice President for NextEra Energy Transmission, discussed the project's aims and benefits with The Dominion Post amid 4,281 letters of protest filed with the Public Service Commission.
Opposition groups highlight that about 58.9 miles of the line would cross West Virginia, primarily serving as a pass-through for power destined for Virginia's Data Center Alley in Loudoun County. Pawlowski addressed this, revealing ongoing discussions with the Office of Energy in West Virginia and PJM for a potential direct substation in West Virginia. He also emphasized the project's reliability benefits, property tax revenue (estimated at $133 million, with 70% for public education), and 200-300 construction jobs for the state. Pawlowski noted that the grid needs modernization due to significant load growth and outdated infrastructure, not solely due to data centers.
He clarified that the MARL project is the western segment of PJM's B3800 series, approved in December 2023 to expand the regional transmission system. It originates in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and connects to lines built by FirstEnergy (via its subsidiary Potomac Edison) and Dominion Energy, traversing Frederick, Clarke, and Loudoun counties in Virginia, and Jefferson County in West Virginia. Pawlowski also defended the project's increased cost estimate of $1.167 billion (up from an earlier preliminary estimate), attributing it to more detailed engineering design and community engagement. He refuted claims that power would solely originate from specific West Virginia coal-fired plants, stating that power flows from all sources within the PJM system, and acknowledged landowner concerns about property values and scenic impact, citing studies suggesting minimal impact.