Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) / Gore-Doubs-Goose Creek
The Mid -Atlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) and Gore-Doubs-Goose Creek projects are two segments of the same transmission line. The energy is being pulled from multiple West Virginia power plants from the 502 Junction in Pennsylvania to the delivery point - the Goose Creek Substation - in Data Center Alley. There will be two cases in Virginia but it is the same transmission line!
Both NextERA and FirstEnergy have said they expect to file early December 2025.
NextERA is proposing to take a new 200' easement for their portion of the 500kV line through West Virginia to the Gore Substation in Frederick County, VA . NextERA will also be applying to construct a new substation (Woodside Substation) in Frederick County, VA as well.
- See NextERA's MARL Project Map
- VA SCC Docket Number: TBD
First Energy has proposed a rebuild of the 138kV transmission line structures to a 185' pole with a new 500kV and the existing 138kV line under built for its portion of the project through Frederick, Clarke and north western Loudoun County
- See FirstEnergy's Gore-Doubs-GooseCreek Project Map
- VA SCC Docket Number: TBD
If your property is in Frederick County and you live near the proposed site of the Woodside substation and the transmission lines you may want to file to intervene in both cases.
There is no federal backstop for siting this line - if any one of the states denies it the transmission line will not be built.
If you are intervening in either PSC case be sure to include a request for the PSC that if the line is not denied by Virginia, that the approval be contingent on the transmission line components being approved in all other states (Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland)
Prepare for the Virginia SCC Case
Intervening in the VA SCC case is the only way to protect your property rights and have standing for appealing the VA SCC decision in court.
Individuals can intervene "Pro Se" at the Virginia SCC to represent themselves. You do not need a lawyer! You also do not have to travel to Richmond for the hearing you can participate remotely by webcast. Businesses and HOA's must be represented by a lawyer. Multiple property owners can pool their resources and hire a single lawyer to represent them all. Property owners who have property that could be taken for easements by eminent domain, may want to contact a lawyer.
If you want to intervene "Pro Se" and have not already requested a Virginia SCC efiling account please do so ASAP so you will be ready to file as soon as the application is filed!
You can review several examples of Notices Of Participation filed in prior and current VA SCC cases (below), or use the VA SCC Docket Search to lookup other example filings.
Once you receive the email that your account has been created, set your password and verify you can login to the Virginia SCC site (here).
Valley Link (765kV) has not scheduled open houses and has not filed an application any state
We expect open houses to be scheduled winter 2025 into first quarter 2026
Valley Link will impact Frederick , Clarke and north western Loudoun counties. A new substation (Welton Springs) is proposed for Frederick County, VA as well. New 200' easements will be taken for the entire length of the line. It is to terminate at a new substation 2 miles south of Doubs in Frederick County, MD.
Virginia State Corporation Commission
The Virginia SCC approves or denies applications for transmission lines, sub-stations, energy generation plants, rates and other activities associated with energy regulation in Virginia.