HVDC Underground Could Be used for MARL
In 2009 During the PATH Case PJM Commissioned Black & Veatch to do an HVDC Study
There were two concepts. The most interesting one was Concept 2 - HVDC Underground
Concept 2 was to use HVDC Underground along the Mt Storm - Doubs line through Jefferson County, West VA and Loudoun County , VA and into Frederick , MD from Welton Springs to Kemptown, Maryland
Same location PJM has proposed to locate MARL (500kV) and Valley Link (765kV) through Jefferson County, West VA and the Lovettsville / Neersville Area in Loudoun County
It would have cost 2x the overhead 765kV option back in 2009, since these transmission lines are needed for the data centers , the data centers should be required to pay the difference between the HVAC overhead option and the HVDC Underground Option. Underground HVDC is much cheaper than underground HVAC . Underground HVAC cannot be used for long distances , HVDC can.
Also HVDC does not have the Electro-Magnetic Field (EMF) health issues that HVAC does
Recent studies by NextGen Highways indicate the price has come down significantly and the installation space is smaller now. There is no reason for pushing multiple massive 765kV and 500kV lines across thousands of acres of private property.
PJM needs to be required to do an HVDC study for its multi-state transmission lines
NextERA MARL Routing Study is underway for its segment from the 502 Junction to the border of Jeffer
NextERA has started working its routing study in Green and Fayette counties in Pennsylvania; Preston , Monongalia, Mineral and Hampshire counties in West Virginia; Garrett and Allegheny counties in Maryland
Highlights:
- New 200' ROW
- Lattice Towers
- Expected to file for a CPN in PA, West VA and Maryland Q3/Q4 2025
NextERA MARYLAND: Allegheny and Garrett Counties
In Maryland NextERA has worked with elected officials to propose a bill to allow it to build the transmisison line through the Wildlands in Western Maryland. HB1270 specifically names Big Savage Mountain Wildland, Bear Pen Wildland and Dan's Mountain Wildland and specifically references NextERA .
There does not need to be a choice between rural private property owners or wilderness conservation areas in Maryland. The choice is whether these lines are sited through Maryland at all.
Alternatives TO The MARL Transmission Line
Alternate Routes Along Highways
One of the reasons for the selected primary route for the MARL transmission line is to use an existing Appalachian Trail crossing. There are three highways (Route 7, Route 9 and Route 50) that also cross the Appalachian Trail to the south / south west of the existing Mt. Storm - Doubs transmission line crossing. "Data Center Alley" - the destination for all this power is on Route 7. Additionally, both Route 7 and Route 9 run directly to / towards "Data Center Alley". Using highway easements of any one of these would avoid taking private property to host the MARL transmission line. NextGen Highways advocates for using existing highway ROWs to co-locate infrastructure such as transmission lines ,they can be contracted with to study the feasibility of routing transmission lines along highways. In 2022 NextGen Highways did a feasibility study for Minnesota Department of Transportation for Buried High Voltage Direct Current Transmission. The study concluded buried HVDC is cost competitive.
High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)
HVDC lines can be buried underground in a right of way that is only 5ft wide by 5ft deep and can be used for both long and short distances. In 2022 NextGen Highways did a feasibility study for Minnesota Department of Transportation for Buried High Voltage Direct Current Transmission. The study concluded buried HVDC is cost competitive. There are about seven recent HVDC transmission projects on the United States many of which contain significant segments that are buried.