KEYSER, W.Va. — Many folks who attended a public comment hearing Thursday were troubled to learn they would not be allowed to speak at the event.
The Public Service Commission of West Virginia held the hearing at Potomac State College to collect public feedback on NextEra Energy Transmission’s proposed line through West Virginia.
The MidAtlantic Resiliency Link project includes construction of a new 107.5-mile-long line from Pennsylvania to Virginia. The 58.9-mile Mountain State section would cross Monongalia, Preston, Mineral and Hampshire counties.
“Not a single person supported it,” Tony Campbell, president of West Virginians Against Transmission Injustice, said of speakers at the hearing.
He said folks also disagreed with a rule, announced at the outset of the event, “that individuals who had filed as intervenors in the case would not be permitted to provide public comments unless they first withdrew their intervenor status.”
Many folks were unwilling “because doing so would forfeit important legal rights, including the ability to participate fully in the proceeding, conduct discovery, present testimony, cross-examine witnesses, and preserve standing for future appeals,” Campbell said.
Roughly 170 people and groups that reportedly filed as interveners in the case will be allowed to present testimony at an October evidentiary hearing in Charleston.
Campbell said throughout Thursday’s hearing, speakers expressed concerns about protecting West Virginia’s land, heritage, farms, wildlife and communities “from what many described as a project designed primarily to serve the explosive growth of data centers in Northern Virginia.”
Folks shared additional concerns that citizens would not have “a meaningful opportunity to communicate directly with the decision-makers responsible for evaluating the MARL application,” he said.
“Environmental concerns were also a dominant theme,” Campbell said. “Residents spoke passionately about preserving forests, farmland, wildlife habitat, scenic landscapes, and the quality of life that has defined their communities for generations.”
In a social media post Friday, Del. Rick Hillenbrand, who represents parts of Hampshire and Mineral counties, said he withdrew his intervenor status so he could address the PSC and speak on behalf of his constituents.
“As of this week, the PSC docket contains thousands of letters opposing this project and only a small fraction supporting it — roughly 40 opponents for every one supporter,” he said. “That level of opposition is extraordinary and should not be dismissed as merely emotional or anecdotal.”
The projected cost of MARL has now risen to approximately $1.167 billion, Hillenbrand said.
“History teaches us that large infrastructure projects rarely become less expensive once construction begins,” he said. “Before imposing such costs on ratepayers and property owners, this commission should demand compelling evidence that the claimed benefits are real, necessary, and unattainable through less harmful alternatives.”
Kaitlin McCormick, senior director of development at NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic, via email Friday said Thursday’s hearing marked an important part of the PSC review process to hear directly from community members.
“The PSC will direct any additional questions or requests for information they have for us in the public docket and we will continue responding appropriately and transparently as this process moves forward,” she said.
“It’s important to remember electricity demand for homes has increased two to three times in the last 50 years,” McCormick said. “The current grid is under stress meeting today’s demand.”
The MARL is about “modernizing the regional electric grid that supports West Virginia residents and those in the surrounding states,” she said.
“We can’t wait for the grid to fail to modernize it,” McCormick said. “This project will deliver meaningful economic benefits to West Virginia communities, including 200 good-paying construction jobs and $133 million in long-term tax revenue.”
NextERA hosted eight open houses, reviewed more than 1,200 public comments and held more than 350 meetings with local organizations, businesses, elected officials and landowners, she said.
“In determining a proposed route for the PSC’s consideration, we worked to minimize impacts by paralleling existing rights-of-way wherever possible, avoiding homes and businesses and protecting sensitive environmental areas — all while meeting the region’s long-term energy needs,” McCormick said.
Additional PSC hearings will be held 5:30 p.m. June 10 in Morgantown and June 11 in Kingwood.
Public comments may also be filed at https://www.psc.state.wv.us/scripts/onlinecomments/default.cfm by clicking the “Formal Case” link or by mailing to Karen Buckley, Executive Secretary, P.O. Box 812, Charleston, West Virginia 25323. Include the case name and number in comments.
Learn more at www.psc.state.wv.us. Click on “Case Information” and access Case No. 26-0075-E-CN.