West Virginia House Dems, Freedom Caucus object to MARL transmission line

West Virginia lawmakers from both the Democratic Party and the conservative Freedom Caucus have officially opposed the Mid-Atlantic Resilient Link (MARL), a proposed 107-mile high-voltage transmission line developed by NextEra Energy. The project, estimated to cost over $1 billion, aims to connect power between Southwest Pennsylvania and Northern Virginia, with approximately 60 miles traversing Monongalia, Preston, Mineral, and Hampshire counties in West Virginia.

Opposition stems from concerns that the project would impose a significant financial burden on West Virginia taxpayers and ratepayers—estimated at $185 million by the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA)—while primarily benefiting the rapidly growing data center industry in Loudoun County, Virginia. Del. Evan Hansen (D-Monongalia) highlighted NextEra’s potential use of eminent domain to acquire land from unwilling West Virginia landowners. Senator Chris Rose (R-Monongalia) stated that the line would divert resources and cost West Virginia ratepayers over $440 million to support Virginia's data centers.

Freedom Caucus Chairman Del. Chris Anders criticized the project as "pure, undiluted cronyism" intended solely for Loudoun County's data center profits, despite West Virginia being a power exporter. Anders and other Freedom Caucus members attempted to pass an amendment to block the MARL line and prohibit eminent domain, but it failed to reach a floor vote. Hansen noted the bipartisan nature of the opposition, expressing hope that public pressure or future legislative action could sway the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC), which is scheduled to hold an evidentiary hearing on NextEra’s permit application on October 26. NextEra Energy stated its commitment to working with landowners and offering fair-market value for easements, estimating the average residential customer cost in West Virginia would be under a dollar a month.