!! TWO NEW HVAC Transmissions Lines PROPOSED a 500kV AND a 765kV !!

The first part of the meeting was on Eminent Domain.  However, the second half was on easements and contained  a  lot of misinformation concerning what can be "negotiated"  in transmission line easements. This was a policy pitch not grounded in reality.  

There is absolutely no way NextERA will be creating easements for a multi-state transmission line with: 

• "leasing agreements" with 50 or 100 years terms or 
• some time frame with a renewal that the landowner can reject or
• monthly income based on the capacity of the line or how much energy flows through the line 

What was proposed in terms of these options for transmission line easements was a set of potential policies that confilct with existing  federal and state laws. There was genuine discussion for future transmission line policies - none of which can be applied until becoming either state or federal law.

That is not how interstate transmission line easements work, these are nothing like solar fields or windmills.  The reality is these are one time payment events with a contract that becomes part of the deed and lasts in perpetuity. There are laws governing easements, easement procurements,structured compensation and formula rates  for the transmission line developers.  

It seems odd that for a $50 membership fee from a property owner the farm bureau would be able to represent a group of private property owners in negotiations with a transmission developer.  (Maybe I misunderstood what that $50 membership was for, I will ask for clarification from the Garrett County Farm Bureau and update when I hear back) Keep in mind, the farm bureau is actively opposing the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP) why are those farms worth preserving and these are not?  If it sounds too good to be true ...

One other thing to be aware of  during the PATH fight in 2009,  there were "property bundlers"  that  wanted to sign up land owners to "bundle"  properties  to do the "negotiating".  Those "property bundlers"  would then have taken a percentage  of the compensation that would have been paid to the land owners.  I'm not saying that is what is happening here.  Just be aware of  sollicitations to "help negotiate" or purchase property.

I can't stress enough what a very very bad idea it is to have anyone but an Attorney that you have personally vetted represent your property interests to advise, interpret and draft the easement agreement.  

These are PERPETUAL easements that are deeded to the property,  if granted the energy company will eventually put a transmission line there!

There are property owners right now fighting to prevent new transmission lines on easements granted decades to over a centuary ago:

1. Alliance To Stop The Line :  PA, PPL wants to build a 500kV line on poles 200' high in an easement acquired in 1912 that has not had transmission lines on it since the 1950s or 1960s. 
2. Towering Concerns : This group in southern VA is opposing the "Kracken" which is the 3rd of the 500kV lines in the 2022 W3 (MARL/Gore-Doubs-GooseCreek, MPRP and the Kracken) A portion of this line is along easements created in the 1960s for a transmission line from a nuclear plant that was never built.
3. No More Powerlines: This Maryland group is fighting the BGE Brandon Shores Mitigation project which is trying to put another  line in easements  granted in 1919 that BGE has already "improved" with two additional lines.

Contact an Attorney (on your own or together with other property owners), research easements. The easement should be as tightly worded as possible.  For example,  the easement should state that no herbicides of any kind may be used to control vegetation, by aerial spraying, by manual application on the ground or by basal stump application. 

Easements are perpetual.  The EMFs from thes lines are orders of magnitude greater than anything ever envisioned by property owners in 1919.  What will they "upgrade" the 500kV line to, over your descendants heads?  At the rate the data centers are being built, they could be upgrading or expanding these easements within your lifetime. The only way to mitigate the health risk is to use HVDC and HVDC lines can be placed underground in as little as a 40 foot wide easement.  If an easement is granted the company or its successor will eventually put a transmission line there! 

Sign nothing until after a Certificate Of Public Convenience And Neccessity (CPCN) has been  has been granted by your state's Public Utility Corporation!  

Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia property owners  do not want these overhead lines on anyones property.  Join us Western Maryland!  Four states of property owners saying NO has alot of barganing power.   

We can stop this overhead line. If we ALL say no,  they will have to go elsewhere or put it underground. 

Eminent Domain Workshop February 17, 2026 at 6:00pm Zoom and in-person meeting by the  University of Maryland and Garrett County Farm Bureau at Garrett College in McHenry, Md. in Room 111 of the GIEC Building, located at 687 Mosser Road, McHenry, MD 21541. 

If you intend to attend in person, there is no cost to attend, in-person registration is required by Friday, February 13 OR If you want a free catered meal, register by Thursday, Februrary 12.

See details for  here . 

*** Update: email recieved from Garrett College that states:

  "  • There will be no representation from county government

      • There will be no representation from power or utility companies

      • No project proposals or official actions will be discussed

    This workshop is intended solely to provide information and increase understanding so   

    participants can make informed decisions and ask informed questions in the future."

****************

Use the Virtual Zoom Meeting Link below to attend virtually, you do not need to register to attend virtually.

NextERA has filed applications for  the Mid-Atlantic Resiliance Link (MARL) in West Virginia and Maryland 

West Virginia PSC NextERA Case :  26-0075-E-CN 

• Preston , Monongalia,  Mineral  and Hampshire counties 
• Use the WVA Docket Search  to locate the case documents, choose case on the top left, enter the case number, documents are under  "Activities" on the right
• Submit your comments for NextERA Energy 26-0075-E-CN  : here
• See How To Subscribe to the case at the WVA PSC to recieve emails when documents are posted to the case

Maryland PSC NextERA Case : 9857

• Garrett  & Allegany  counties
• Access documents for the case on the MD PSC website here

Virginia no cases filed yet.

If you intend to intervene Pro Se, review the Virginia Landowner Resources and examples.  Be sure  to request a Virginia SCC efiling account if you have not already done so!