MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Monongalia County residents who have been actively vocal against the proposed MidAtlantic Resiliency Link by NextEra Energy want to hear more input from the public.
County resident Juliet Marlier, who has also been one of the more vocal voices in opposition of the proposed MARL project, encouraged residents to take part in a public meeting that will be hosted at the Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Station on Wednesday, October 15, starting at 6:30 p.m. Marlier expressed the need for residents to attend and get as many details as possible on the project, which has an open case with the West Virginia Public Service Commission over the proposed 107.5-mile transmission line that will still go through at least four West Virginia counties.
“They published their preferred route and also an alternate route, but we also have information that they will be revising the plan at some point,” said Marlier about the importance of having updated information on the project. “It’s very confusing, and this is why we need this public meeting.”
According to Marlier, the proposed route for the MARL project would directly impact at least five West Virginia counties and at least one neighboring state. For a transmission line that will connect from Greene County, Pennsylvania, to Virginia to support data center development, the initial plan is to have the 500-kilovolt transmission line cross through parts of Mineral, Monongalia, Preston, Hampshire, and Jefferson counties as well as into portions of Maryland, this is without any offerings for substations or ways for the hosting states to have any benefits from the power. Added to the typical decline in property values that stem from such projects, Marlier, there are plenty of reasons for residents to find out more about the project.
“Financially, it devalues the land, so that’s my personal interest, but even if it weren’t wrecking my property, I’d just be opposed to the idea of West Virginians not having control of their future,” said Marlier.
Along with the expectation that over 100 residents are expected to be in attendance at the public meeting, like over the past few months, state officials are also expected to speak at the Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Station on Wednesday. According to Marlier, at least one member of the West Virginia House of Delegates is scheduled to address the crowd to discuss his thoughts on the project, as well as public officials from Monongalia and Preston Counties, who are expected to be in attendance. With public opposition seen across the Mountain State, Marlier also encourages residents to attend if they want to find out more ways to speak out regarding the MARL project as a whole.
“Our Delegate David McCormick is expected to come and say a few words, and we also have expert speakers online,” said Marlier on who will be speaking on Wednesday. “One is (also) Karen Newman, who is from Jefferson County.”
While the proposal of the MARL project is still in the development phase, formal opposition has been expressed both by North Central West Virginia residents and public officials. As of late September, over 880 responses have been made to the Public Service Commission related to the project, and at least three county commissions have voted in approval of resolutions not supporting the proposed MARL line. This includes the Monongalia County, Preston County, and Hampshire County commissions, with others either voicing opposition or passing similar measures. With the large number of people universally against the project, Marlier hopes residents from around North Central West Virginia will drive up to Cheat Lake.
“We feel that if MARL goes through, we are then basically sitting ducks for expansion plans beyond that,” said Marlier. “So we’re trying to nip this in the bud before we see the five affected counties on the MARL link.”