Some lawmakers appear unconvinced about the need for two large transmission line projects proposed to cut across the state.
Lawmakers on the Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary grilled a panel of energy industry representatives during an interim meeting at Canaan Valley State Park Monday.
Legislators like Del. Bill Ridenour, R-Jefferson, repeatedly questioned the cost to local ratepayers of two transmission line projects proposed to cut across West Virginia.
“I don’t understand why West Virginia should be paying for a Virginia decision relative to their data centers,” he said. “They’ve decided that they want to go with coal or with solar and wind, and they’re going to stick us with paying for the transmission lines.”
Ridenhour and others’ comments mirror public comments recently submitted to the Public Service Commission (PSC) regarding one of the two transmission line projects, the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link (MARL). The 107.5-mile-long line from Pennsylvania to Virginia would cross Monongalia, Preston, Mineral and Hampshire counties.
“The PSC has seen about 40 letters of protest for every single letter of support for the MARL line,” Del. Rick Hillenbrand, R–Hampshire, said.
The second transmission line proposal – Valley Link Transmission – has not finalized a route yet but has been approved by regional grid operator PJM to construct 260 miles of 765-kilovolt (kV) transmission line and two substations between Putnam County and Frederick County, Maryland.
Members of the committee expressed interest in exploring what the legislature can do to protect ratepayers from paying for the cost of major infrastructure projects.
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