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HB1270 Asks to remove protections of certain wildlands in Western Maryland, to allow construction of overhead transmission lines.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is collecting public comments on the transmission line project. Please submit your thoughts on this controversial issue.
Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) Project has released a survey. Share your opinions about Overhead Transmission Lines in Western Maryland.
The Bottom Line.
Policy strategists have discovered the bottom line on this issue. Maryland legislators are supporting legislation for transmission lines to help lower utility bills for their constituents. Legislators have been told that more out-of-state power on Maryland transmission lines is the answer. The truth is that clearing the path for new transmission lines will increase electric bills, not reduce them.
Rate increases are predominantly from the construction of transmission lines, with minimal fluctuation from generation.
Rushing to clear "constraints" like Wildlands protections is an avenue to earlier profits for the power company, which will increase infrastructure fees to rate-payers.
Additionally, clearing these constraints will move the state backward in its recent gains in conservation and resource protection.
What you should know.
Two bills in the Maryland General Assembly ask to exempt certain areas in the Big Savage Mountain Wildland, Bear Pen Wildland, and Dan's Mountain Wildland from being designated as a wildland area. This allows the construction of overhead transmission lines.
EMM hosted an information session on February 20th, which is summarized on this page.
House Bill HB1270
Natural Resources - Wildland Areas - Overhead Transmission Lines
Hearing: Economic Matters Committee
Date: March 6 at 1:00 PM.
A cross-filed Senate bill (SB0399) was heard on February 11.
Steve Storck offered his extensive knowledge of the bill's request from NextEra Energy during the webinar. The highlights are below, which will help you formulate testimony for the pending hearing date.
VIEW PRESENTATION SLIDES
Browse through the webinar slides to see an overview, or watch the recorded video presentation below with Steve Storck.
SITE PHOTOS
View a series of captioned photos showing the current Potomac Edison right of way and transmission lines. The proposed new lines would "run parallel," according to NextEra Energy.
HOW TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY
You will need to set up an account with MyMGA on the Maryland General Assembly website. See instructions by clicking the button below.
KEY POINTS OF OBJECTION ON HB1270
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
This bill is counter to the intent of the Wildlands Preservation statute to preserve these sensitive habitats unimpaired for future generations.
UNDERMINES THE LAW AND PROCESS
The bill creates a new pathway for any willing delegate to submit bills for changes to wildland management, and authority is only granted to the Governor with public input.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
DNR held the first gathering to collect public input on March 13 at Savage River Lodge in Frostburg. Over 130 attended, but no formal presentation was given.
PROPOSED TRANSMISSION LINE ROUTE
The closest possible route alternative to going through the Wildlands is 41 miles (BLUE) vs the 35 miles (RED) following the existing Potomac Edison 500kV line through the Wildlands. It probably has too many curves in it but this map follows a couple of existing utility right-of-ways (ROW) and tried to stay on larger corporate properties to minimize the number of required ROW agreements. Most of these are coal strip mines or current lands with wind farms. This route also crosses Big Savage Mountain over the St. John's Rock OHV park instead of Wildlands in the RED route. The remainder of the straight east-west route in BLUE follows existing Potomac Edison ROWs and impacts a similar number of public and private properties to the NextEra preferred route (RED) through the Wildlands.
MAP COURTESY OF STEVE STORCK
LINK SOURCES
HOUSE BILL
House Bill 1270 - Natural Resources - Wildland Areas - Overhead Transmission Lines
· Sponsor: Delegate Jim Hinebaugh, Economic Matters Committee
· Hearing March 6th, 1:00pm – Testimony submission March 4th, 8am to 6pm
· Bill Fiscal and Policy Note
SENATE BILL
Sister Bill – Senate Bill 399
· Sponsor: Senator Mike McKay, Education, Energy and the Environment Committee
· Hearing February 11th (Submitted January 22 and announced on Facebook)
· Recorded hearing – last bill in 5-hour session – scroll to 4:16:00
· Written Testimony on SB399
Maryland Wildlands Preservation System Statute - MD Natural Resources Code § 5-1203
COMAR (Code of Maryland Regulations) on Wildlands - Chapter 08.01.02. Wildlands in Maryland, Sections 01-06
Descriptions of Environmental Resources in Wildlands from 3 co-located State Irreplaceable Natural Areas – Dan's Mountain Wildland, Bear Pen Wildland, Big Savage Wildland
Maryland DNR Wildlands Information Page
PJM/NextEra Energy Mid-Atlantic Resilience Link (MARL) Transmission Line
· MARL Information Page
· 2022 map of MARL Project with other transmission line projects*
· Guessed MARL route in Garrett and Allegany Counties "parallel" to existing lines*
· Guessed MARL route w/property ownership*
· Open Infrastructure Map of existing power grid and transmission lines
* NOTE: Maps do not show an actual route for MARL, these are preliminary based on the best information available.
Maryland Public Service Commission – Public Services Statute §7–207 (see e. for transmission line certification criteria)
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