Double Jeopardy... Now With Pictures!

Last month, I told you about a proposal that was submitted to PJM Interconnection that would turn MARL into a double-circuit 500kV transmission line between the Fort Martin power station in Morgantown, WV and the new Woodside substation in Frederick County, VA.

Well, PJM has finally posted its new maps and there's one that shows what this NextEra proposal would look like, if you had trouble following along with the narrative I gave you last time.

​Here it is:  

This map shows a second 500kV circuit beginning at the Fort Martin power station.  A double circuit is just what it sounds like... two 500kV circuits on a common structure.  It is unlikely that the two circuits will be stacked vertically on the structure.  More likely that they will be separated horizontally, with one 500kV circuit on a horizontal arm on each side of the structure.  This is going to change the look of the towers, perhaps their height, and perhaps their width.  It also doubles the amount of power MARL can carry.

The double circuit structures will end at Gore, VA, where NextEra's segment of the project ends.  Because FirstEnergy owns the eastern segment of MARL that continues on from there, NextEra will have to put its second 500kV circuit on new structures on a new 200 ft. wide right of way.  This is an enlargement of the Frederick County section.

You would still get Gore-Doubs-Goose Creek 500kV on new poles on one side of the existing easement, plus you would get MARL 500kV #2 on a new 200 ft. right of way on the north side of the existing easement.  And don't forget Valley Link, which will add another 200 ft. to all that for its own line of 765kV towers.  Impacted landowners would have not only 1,765kV of electricity added to their properties, but an additional 400 feet of right of way as well.

Meanwhile, at the other end of MARL #2, NextEra proposes to add a new 500kV substation at the point where existing lines feeding from Ft. Martin intersect with MARL #1.  That part of PJM's map doesn't look exactly accurate, so here's my attempt at mapping where the new Sandy Creek substation may be located north of Bruceton Mills.

Of course, this is going to delay MARL significantly because they're going to have to go back to the drawing board designing the structures.  They're going to have to have new Open House meetings to show you their updated project, too.  And this project is likely to include parts that are ultimately assigned to FirstEnergy, such as expanding the Fort Martin substation.  If FirstEnergy is assigned components of MARL #2, then FirstEnergy would have to start from square one on its part of the project.  The new 500kV NextEra line in Frederick County would also have to start from scratch and hold Open House meetings before filing an application.

So, what happens next?  PJM will be evaluating this proposal (and 133 others around the region) and discussing them at upcoming meetings with the goal of choosing projects by the end of the year.  It's unlikely NextEra will move forward with its application until it knows whether it will be approved to add that second 500kV circuit.

When your friendly, neighborhood land shark... err agent, land agent, shows up to pressure you about signing an easement agreement, perhaps you should be asking him about NextEra's MARL double circuit proposal?  There's more you're not being told...