MORGANTOWN – As anticipated, the Monongalia County Commission will join its counterparts in Preston, Mineral and Hampshire counties in filing for intervenor status with the West Virginia Public Service Commission regarding the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link project.
The commission has approved an engagement agreement with Stephens Law Office to represent the county in those efforts.
Commissioner Sean Sikora said Brad Stephens will be the commission’s “eyes and ears’ throughout the process.
“Brad’s a logical choice to me,” Commissioner Jeff Arnett added. “I mean, the first informational meeting Commissioner Sikora and I attended in Preston County, actually, Brad was there sort of leading the discussion. He’s very well versed in these types of things, and especially in this project. So, I think he’ll represent the county well, and keep us in the game, as it were.”
NextEra Energy Transmission LLC is seeking PSC approval for its Application for Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and Related Relief for the MARL project – a proposed 107.5-mile, 500-kilovolt power line running from Greene County, Pennsylvania to Frederick County, Virginia.
About 58.9 miles of the line would cross through West Virginia, including 5.9 miles in Monongalia County. Mineral (10.9 miles), Preston (15.8) and Hampshire (26.2) counties will also be impacted.
The county commissions in each of the four counties have passed resolutions in opposition to West Virginia’s inclusion in the project.
As an intervenor, the county will be a formal party in the PSC’s consideration of NextEra’s application, able to participate in hearings, submit testimony and evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and receive all case filings and updates. Further, only intervenors have the right to appeal the PSC decision.
Earlier this month, the PSC scheduled four public hearings to be held on the MARL project:
- Potomac State College Davis Conference Center, Keyser, 5:30 p.m., June 4
- Hampshire County Courthouse, Romney, 5:30 p.m., June 5
- Mon County Center in Mylan Park, Morgantown, 5:30 p.m., June 10
- Kingwood Civic Center, Kingwood, 5:30 p.m., June 11
