Bracing for Impact

May 30, 2025

West Virginians Could Pay More than $440M for New Transmission Lines. A new study released May 29 found that West Virginia electric consumers will pay hundreds of millions of dollars for new transmission lines ordered by regional grid operator PJM Interconnection to export power produced in West Virginia to new data centers in Northern Virginia. The study was performed by Cathy Kunkel, an energy consultant with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).

The study focuses on the proposed 500kV Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) and the 765kV ValleyLink transmission projects, planned by PJM to cross Jefferson County, but which have not yet been permitted or constructed. If approved by the West Virginia Public Service Commission, the projects are expected to increase electric bills in the state by more than $440 million, according to IEEFA.

"The possibility that West Virginia ratepayers will be paying over $440 million to subsidize Virginia's insane energy policies highlights the ludicrous nature of our regional energy transmission system. Mountaineers should not pay for Virginia's decision to eliminate their coal and natural gas plants. West Virginia needs to keep our energy to build our economy, not Virginia's. If Virginia wants to change its policies and buy coal and natural gas, we'd be happy to sell them as much as they can afford. Our beautiful state should not see ugly transmission lines forced upon us to power Virginia data centers”, said West Virginia Delegate Bill Ridenour, R-Jefferson, after reviewing the study.

The transmission lines were proposed as a fix for the rapidly growing electricity demand for new data centers in Northern Virginia, according to local transmission expert Keryn Newman, who likened the new lines to enormous electric extension cords for the data centers that don’t provide any benefit to West Virginians and instead scar our landscape, take our property, and send us the bill.

“New transmission lines crossing West Virginia to export our electricity to data centers in

Virginia are going to cost West Virginians at least $440M in increased electric bills at a time

when they can least afford it. We need to keep our electricity here, working to empower West

Virginia’s economy and its citizens. We can’t afford these new transmission extension cords,” said Newman.

Mary Gee, a resident of Summit Point, whose land and home may be taken to make way for the new transmission lines, is troubled by the IEEFA report.

“It’s bad enough that my family may lose our home of 20 years, but to be forced to pay for that destruction through higher electric bills is salt in the wound,” she said.

For more information about the IEEFA Study: https://ieefa.org/