Latest news with #SenateBill399
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Open houses for transmission lines project to begin next week
CUMBERLAND — A company that wants to construct high-voltage electric lines through parts of wildlands in Allegany and Garrett counties will host a series of open houses beginning next week. NextEra Energy Transmission plans to build the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link, a new 105-mile line from Virginia to Pennsylvania. According to the company's website, the transmission system, also known as a grid, moves electricity from various power sources to the communities where it can be used, and is 'critical to improving the efficiency and reliability of the electric grid in the Mid-Atlantic region.' Although a specific route for the project hasn't been made public, legislation was recently passed to strip wildlands designations from areas of the state's two westernmost counties, and is on Gov. Wes Moore's desk. Senate Bill 399, introduced earlier this year by state Sen. Mike McKay — a Republican who represents Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties — includes that wildland designations will be exempt in 'areas in the Big Savage Mountain Wildland, Bear Pen Wildland and Dan's Mountain Wildland' subject to a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to construct the lines. More than 30 people and organizations, including The Nature Conservancy and the Maryland Ornithological Society, opposed the bill. Recently, McKay encouraged 'everyone to participate in the public meetings planned in Garrett and Allegany counties.' Open houses The open houses will not include a formal presentation, but project representatives will be available to answer questions and provide project-related information, according to NextEra's website. The events will be held from 3 to 7 p.m.: • May 5 at the Slanesville Volunteer Fire Company, 6951 Bloomery Pike, Slanesville, West Virginia. • May 6 at the Friendsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, 122 Walnut St., Friendsville. • May 7 at the Good Will Fire Company Armory, 2 Advocate Court, Lonaconing. • May 8 at the Greater Cumberland Regional Airport, 165 Terminal Loop, Wiley Ford, West Virginia. • May 12 at the Erickson Alumni Center, 1 Alumni Drive, Morgantown, West Virginia. • May 13 at the Fairchance Volunteer Fire Department, 31 Pittsburgh St., Fairchance, Pennsylvania. • May 14 at the Bruceton Brandonville Volunteer Fire Department 142 Union St., Bruceton Mills, West Virginia. • May 20 at the Gore Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company, 7184 Northwestern Turnpike, Gore, Virginia.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wildlands exemption bill passes
ANNAPOLIS — In an unusual scenario, three Western Maryland Republican delegates voted with nearly every House Democrat to approve a bill that will strip wildland designations from parts of Allegany and Garrett counties to facilitate construction of overhead transmission lines. The legislation pertains to a new 105-mile line that NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic Inc. wants to construct from Pennsylvania to Virginia, although route details haven't been made public. Senate Bill 399, introduced earlier this year by state Sen. Mike McKay — a Republican who represents Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties, includes that wildland designations will be exempt in 'areas in the Big Savage Mountain Wildland, Bear Pen Wildland and Dan's Mountain Wildland' subject to a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to construct the lines. According to the proposed legislation, the Public Service Commission will require the applicant for the certificate 'to provide wildland impact mitigation guarantees.' The bill, which went before the Education, Energy and the Environment Committee in February, was met with unfavorable testimony from more than 30 people and organizations, including The Nature Conservancy and the Maryland Ornithological Society. Language was added to the measure that included design consultation with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to minimize forest loss, and a replacement of lost designated wildland acreage. Friday, McKay said the revisions helped the bill pass. 'I am glad to see that amendments were adopted by both houses to satisfy the League of Conservation Voters and others to take a position of neutral on SB399,' he said. 'Now, the work begins to make sure that balance is struck between conservation, economic prosperity, energy security and responsible governance,' McKay said. 'I encourage everyone to participate in the public meetings planned in Garrett and Allegany counties.' Officials for the League of Conservation Voters Friday said their position on the bill is 'grumpy neutral.' Marisa Olszewski, environment and community program manager for the organization, said the amendments satisfied some of the group's concerns. 'We're not happy about it,' she said of the bill's passage, adding that the organization prefers the wildlands remain protected. The bill was 'moving forward,' Olszewski said. 'We didn't want them passing the very bad bill with no amendments,' she said. 'It doesn't mean that we became positive about the bill.' 'Precedent' This week, Dels. Jason Buckel, Jim Hinebaugh, who sponsored a cross-file to McKay's bill, and Terry Baker were among a small group of Republicans and roughly 100 Democrats who passed SB399. None of the three responded to Cumberland Times-News questions that included, 'Why did you vote to pass the bill?' About 30 Republicans from across the state voted against the bill, which will destroy Maryland's protected wildlands, Del. Robin Grammer, R-Baltimore County, said. 'Because we have to seek energy from adjacent states, we're now having to create these transmission lines and in many cases wreck areas that have not historically been touched in probably thousands of years,' he said. The project would not serve ratepayers or energy delivery in Maryland, Grammer said. 'There are some cases where they will likely have to take additional private property,' he said. 'We put these extreme energy mandates in place and now we're having to criss-cross the state in this case for a project that doesn't actually serve Maryland,' Grammer said. 'I think this is one of the saddest bills of the session,' he said. Del. Lauren Arikan, R-Hartford County, said 'running wires through our wildlands cannot be the answer.' She warned that the bill's passage would grant permission for future projects in protected areas of Maryland. 'This is a legal precedent we're setting,' Arikan said. 'I'm hoping that the people will speak loudly in the next election cycle and let us know how they feel about it,' she said. Del. C.T. Wilson, D-Charles County, said the bill would require NextEra to replace any wildlands the company takes. 'We are part of a 13-state grid' that means 'sometimes having transmission lines go through out state,' he said. SB399 passed by a 109-29 vote and is now on Gov. Wes Moore's desk. Amendment Grammer drafted an amendment to the bill that he said, 'prevents eminent domain' for construction or maintenance of transmission lines. 'Unfortunately, I think a lot of our state woodlands both private and public are at risk,' he said. 'This bill does not guarantee that we will run these transmission lines through the specified area,' Grammer said. Del. Brian Crosby, D-St. Mary's County, urged the body to resist the amendment. 'This project doesn't use any eminent domain,' he said. The amendment failed with 38 votes in favor and 100 against. Veto Frostburg resident and former Maryland senator John Bambacus said he hopes Moore will veto the bill. 'None of this makes sense to me,' he said, calling the way the legislation came about 'very suspect.' The bill 'from the beginning was a mystery,' Bambacus said, adding that no public discussions were held about the issue. DNR in March hosted a meeting to collect feedback from the public about possible construction of the transmission lines through protected wildlands. However, the organization at that time didn't take a position on the project and said via press release, 'there will be no formal presentations by the department' at the meeting. 'There was no transparency whatsoever,' Bambacus said. 'This is troubling to me on a lot of different levels.' 'Undermined' Garrett County resident and farm owner Steve Storck said there must be accountability for the passage of the bill. 'Preservation is dead in Maryland,' he said. 'In one year the Scenic and Wild Rivers Act, Irreplaceable Natural Areas Act and now the Wildlands Preservation System statute have all been undermined,' Storck said. 'This is all under the leadership of the Moore administration and with the support of DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz,' he said. Restoration and conservation 'are positive things but if we don't protect what is already set aside, what is the point?' Storck said.
Forbes
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Protected Maryland Wildlands At Stake In Laws For Electric Power Line
Bear Creek in Garrett County, Maryland Controversial legislation is moving through the Maryland General Assembly to okay building overhead transmission lines in three wildland areas to power several states and may jeopardize 28 endangered species and millions in federal funds for wildlife projection. A pair of mirror proposed laws House Bill 1270 and Senate Bill 399 are passing various legislative states in both chambers despite overwhelming local opposition. The legislation seeks to construct part of a large-scale, 105-mile, 500 kilovolt transmission line from Virginia to Pennsylvania and cut through three untouched and protected Maryland wildlands. The legislation is called 'Natural Resources - Wildland Areas - Overhead Transmission Lines.' HB 1270 is sponsored by Delegate Jim Hinebaugh, Jr., a retired U.S. Army colonel, while SB 399 is spearheaded by Sen. Mike McKay, a business owner. Many opponents to the legislation have submitted testimony about a lack of public hearings and participation prior to bills being introduced in the General Assembly. The bills seek to exempt parts of three protected areas in the Big Savage Mountain Wildland, Bear Pen Wildland and Dan's Mountain Wildland from being designated as a wildland area and instead be subject to a certificate of public convenience and necessity to build the transmission line. The bills would mandate the state Public Service Commission to require the company (NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic Inc.) applying for permission to obtain 'a certificate of public convenience and necessity' to build the overhead transmission line and 'provide wildland impact mitigation guarantees.' In Jan. 31, 2025, submitted written testimony to Senate Bill 399, Maryland General Assembly At issue are the protected lands and the species that live there which would be forever disrupted in Maryland for a project that benefits electricity consumers who live in other states as well as corporate interests. The state has been protecting the three areas—Big Savage Mountain Wildland (2,879 acres), Bear Pen Wildland (1,517 acres) and Dan's Mountain Wildland (4,047 acres)—as the highest classification of wildlands defined as primitive areas untouched by urban civilization that 'can offer the experience of solitude and self-reliance. These wildlands are usually lands located at higher elevations that protect watersheds and are ecologically vulnerable to human interferences,' according to a Maryland General Assembly 2025 Fiscal Policy Note about the impact of HB 1270. The fiscal policy note underscored that commercial enterprises and permanent roads, use of motorized equipment/vehicles and structures or installations are not allowed in the wildland areas. In addition, to allow construction of the overhead transmission lines could disallow federal funding of which Maryland was allocated $9.2 million in under the Pittman-Robertson Act in fiscal year 2024. The protected wildlands also together provide a habitat for two endangered bat species, a rare Appalachian cottontail rabbit and 25 other known rare, threatened, or endangered species. Submitting testimony in support of the legislation were 14 testimonies, including one from T.R. Robinette, president of the Allegany County Farm Bureau Inc.: 'After the transmission is completed that habitat which is currently wildland will go back to wildland habitat. To go around the wildlands would take more personal property including farmland and residential areas.' Another proponent was Billy Bishoff of the Garrett County Farm Bureau. 'Our reasoning is that our agricultural lands are equally important as wildlands. We are not advocating for the construction of a transmission line. We just believe that if it is built that it should follow a path that minimizes the impact on all lands. Our concern is that efforts to avoid wildlands will impact more of our land.' Also representing other agriculture interests was Tyler Hough, government relations director of Maryland Farm Bureau, who submitted support for the legislation as having less of an impact to farms. However, Hough stressed 'Maryland Farm Bureau's support of HB1270 is in no way in support of the construction of the NextEra Energy proposed transmission line through Garrett and Allegany County.' Lobbyist Jamie DeMarco, representing the Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund, encouraged passage of the legislation and noted that NextEra has the project contract. 'When compared to other potential alternative transmission routes the proposed Wildlands route would have less impacts to residents, farms, and businesses. In addition, the Wildlands route would affect less forest clearing, wetlands, and trout streams. It would also cost less for Marylanders as it is a much shorter route,' DeMarco stated in written testimony. In the Senate, there seven testimonies submitted in favor of the SB 399, including a letter from NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic, which is developing the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) transmission line. The entire project would build a new 105-mile, 500 kilovolt transmission line from Fredrick County, Va., to Greene County, Penn. And contain a Maryland section at the potential wildlands site in Allegany and Garrett counties. Kaley Bangston, NextEra Energy regulatory and political affairs director, submitted written testimony backing the bill. She said it would exempt 'a small portion of land to allow for the MARL line to route adjacent to an existing transmission line owned and operated by FirstEnergy which also routes through Wildlands. While we believe this routing option provides the least impact to the region, we are actively performing a routing study and taking feedback from local stakeholders as we make these routing decisions.' Kurt R. Schwarz, conservation chair emeritus of the Maryland Ornithological Society, urged legislators in written testimony against passing the legislation since building the electric transmission lines there would 'destroy these ecosystems, habitats, or rare plants. ..Our members visit these Wildlands to admire the birds that live there. Big Savage Mountain, Bear Pen, and Dan's Mountain Wildlands all provide valuable habitat for our declining bird populations. North America has lost almost 30% of its birds since 1970. Loss of habitat is one on the major causes of these declines.' Schwarz explained many reasons why the Maryland Ornithological Society is strongly against passage of the legislation. He predicted placing the overhead transmission lines will fragment the unbroken forests in these wildlands for already declining bird species populations that live inside forest interiors. 'Trees are felled along the line, and vegetation below the lines is permanently suppressed. Support roads destroy and fragment additional forest,' he noted. Also the forests are vital for the other creatures living there—native brook trout and a rare mammal called a fisher, which is related to weasels and otters. A fisher in a tree. 'The proposed transmission line corridor through Western Maryland is part of a larger project to meet the exclusive demands of data centers in Northern Virginia,' Garrett County Forestry Board Chair Will Williams stated in testimony. The board promotes stewardship of Maryland forests. 'There is no map of the exempted transmission line routes being proposed by the bill. There has been no determination that these high-voltage electric lines will serve the interests of the State and its people when there are other forms of energy to be considered that are less intrusive,' Williams added. Brent Walls, riverkeeper at the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, subjected a two-page letter objecting to the legislation that would enable NextEra to 'cut a 200 foot path through' Maryland wildlands, "fracturing the vitality.' Furthermore, passage of the legislation would 'undermine the integrity of legislation that has been in place for 52 years and set a precedent that any for profit company can legislate a taking of Wildlands.' Another opponent was Dawn Beitzel, from Engage Mountain Maryland, who echoed concern about the infrastructure project causing 'irreversible impacts on wildlife habitats, water quality, and the natural beauty that defines these areas' as well as disrupting migrating species, forever changing landscapes and introducing invasive species. 'Additionally, there are alternative routes and technologies available to deliver necessary energy infrastructure without compromising protected wildlands. Advancing such options would align with Maryland's commitment to conservation and sustainability while still meeting the state's energy needs,' Beitzel added. Opposing the Senate bill was Emily Tarsell, president of Health Choice Maryland: 'Our protected wild lands are protected for a reason. Invasions into these publicly held lands would set a bad precedent for the ability of public-private partnerships to engage in land grabs. The public would lose access to these protected sites while gaining nothing. Development of wild lands would be costly for electric consumers and a gift to private developers and corporate data centers.' David Mosher, of the Maryland chapter of Sierra Club, submitted detailed testimony outlining a series of negative outcomes if enacted. His contentions included the following: 'Our Wild Lands are a significant source of revenue to the State. Wildlife are critical to Maryland's tourism industry. Wildlife watching in Maryland generates over $450 million in economic activity annually in the State each year. This proposal could lead to revenue losses to local businesses and municipalities of millions of dollars.' Delegates gather on the floor in the House Chamber for a session of the Maryland General Assembly As of March 26, the bills continued to move through and gain steam as they winded through both chambers. HB1270 was in its 3rd reading. The Senate version (SB 399) had sailed through to the 1st reading in the opposite chamber. If passed by the legislature and enacted by Gov. Wes Moore, either bill would become law Oct. 1.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Testimony heard for proposed power line project
ANNAPOLIS — Legislation that would strip protections from state wildlands to make way for new overhead transmission lines lacks adequate information to be passed, William R. Neil said. The Frostburg resident and former director of conservation at the New Jersey Audubon Society watched a livestream of hours of testimony on various issues before Senate Bill 399 made it to the floor at an Education, Energy and the Environment Committee hearing Tuesday. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike McKay, a Republican who represents Allegany and Garrett counties and a portion of Washington County, aims to exempt areas of Big Savage Mountain Wildland, Bear Pen Wildland and Dan's Mountain Wildland from their wildland designations for NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic to construct the line. Neil, who provided written testimony to oppose the bill, said the hearing failed to answer questions, including whether existing power lines could be upgraded rather than the bill's proposal to 'cut into new portions of valuable habitat (that) may violate federal regs based on how those lands were purchased.' On Wednesday, he said more information about the bill is needed. 'Don't pass this thing,' Neil said. 'Controversies' At Tuesday's hearing, McKay said NextEra proposes to build its MidAtlantic Resiliency Link from Pennsylvania to Virginia and cross through Allegany and Garrett counties. 'The transmission line is being developed because the regional grid operator, PJM, determined ... it is needed to secure a reliable electricity in the region,' he said. 'It will ensure that our hospitals, schools, homes will have electricity we need for the coming years.' McKay said over 40 years of operation, the project will generate more than $450 million in revenue for Allegany and Garrett counties. The bill provides 'as much transparency as possible in the early process as to avoid some of the controversies that have happened in similar projects downstate,' he said. A proposal known as the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project, which aims to build overhead power lines across Baltimore, Carroll and Frederick counties, has received backlash from many state officials. McKay said NextEra 'has held more than 50 meetings with local stakeholders' about that proposal. 'NextEra has explained to me that one of the possible routes through the district would parallel the existing right of way for the FirstEnergy transmission line,' he said. 'This path makes very, very good sense to me because it would have the least impact to the homes, businesses, viewshed in the community,' McKay said. 'The (Public Service Commission) holds the authority to review and approve the transmission lines in Maryland,' McKay said. Lobbyist Rob Garagiola and three NextEra representatives echoed much of what McKay said. Endangered McKay's bill is cross-filed with House Bill 1270, sponsored by Del. Jim Hinebaugh (R-Garrett, Allegany), and set for a 1 p.m. March 6 hearing before the Economic Matters Committee. A fiscal and policy note for SB399 indicated that, according to the Department of Natural Resources, Big Savage Mountain Wildland, Bear Pen Wildland and Dan's Mountain Wildland 'collectively support two endangered bat species, the rare Appalachian cottontail rabbit, and 25 other known rare, threatened, or endangered species.' PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization for 13 states, including Maryland and the District of Columbia, 'approved a set of proposed projects in December 2023 to expand the region's transmission capacity, enhance the grid, and accommodate increasing electricity demand,' according the document. 'According to NextEra Energy, it has not selected a route yet for the project; however, it anticipates sharing potential routes for the transmission line on its website in spring 2025,' it stated. DNR advised that state wildlands are partially managed using federal grant monies received under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. 'The bill may jeopardize a portion of the funding it receives annually under the act because it would permit the installation of overhead transmission lines on land that is currently part of existing state wildlands,' the document stated. The state, which acquired many of its wildlands using Pittman-Robertson funds, 'is subject to strict requirements on how such land must be used and maintained,' it stated. 'DNR is concerned that the installation of transmission lines at Big Savage Mountain, Bear Pen, and/or Dan's Mountain is a prohibited action under federal law and (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) regulations,' it stated. 'According to USFWS, Maryland received approximately $9.2 million in federal funding under the Pittman-Robertson Act in federal fiscal 2024.' Opposition According to the Education, Energy and the Environment Committee, six people including McKay signed up to speak in favor of SB399 at Tuesday's hearing, and 28 officially opposed the bill. Garrett County resident Steve Storck submitted detailed written testimony and spoke at Tuesday's hearing where he asked for the state's wildland preservation system statute and related Code of Maryland Regulations be upheld. Information including maps for the transmission line project is missing from SB399, he said. Maryland's wildland preservation laws intend to keep 'the most sensitive habitats in our state protected in perpetuity,' Storck said. 'COMAR (regulations) specifically prohibit the type of industrial-scale development in these wildlands.' If there's a critical need, a specific process details a path such projects should follow, he said. 'The governor can come to you with a proposal, but after public engagement,' Storck said. 'These 50 meetings that they're talking about have not occurred in Garrett County.' Conversations about the proposal should take place 'in our town halls with real details so our community can determine the best pathway forward before coming to Annapolis,' he said. Kurt Schwarz, on behalf of Maryland Ornithological Society, said the group 'strongly opposes SB399.' The three Maryland wildlands the bill proposes to exempt are 'virtually untouched by civilization and ecologically vulnerable to human interference,' he said. 'This bill sets a terrible precedent,' Schwarz said. 'If three wildlands can be open for development, so can the other 35 wildlands in Maryland.' Upper Potomac Riverkeeper Brent Walls also advocated for preservation of Maryland's wildlands. Under Maryland code, the purpose of the wildland system clearly preserves the areas 'in their natural state unimpaired for future generations,' he said. 'These lands are not simply parks and recreational areas,' Walls said. 'They're vital ecosystems.' On Wednesday, Frostburg resident and former state senator John Bambacus said he is opposed to SB399 for reasons including that farmers and landowners were not made aware of the proposed legislation and could be impacted by eminent domain. There's been no determination that the high-voltage power lines would serve interests of Marylanders, he said. Other forms of energy should be considered, Bambacus said. 'Senator McKay has been anything but transparent,' he said. 'I'm wondering who he is representing.'
