Frequently Asked Questions About Proposed MARL Transmission Line Project and DNR’s Involvement
Background:
In February and March of 2025, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) solicited public feedback and questions regarding the proposed Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link transmission line project that, if built, could pass through protected wildlands managed by DNR in western Maryland.
The purpose of the below FAQ is to collate the feedback the department received, provide responses to questions, and list top concerns.
By the end of March, DNR had received approximately 75 written comments during the public informational meeting DNR hosted on March 13 in Frostburg at Savage Highlands State Park (former Savage River Lodge) and more than 100 responses to the online feedback portal through the DNR website. DNR will continue to maintain the public comment portal to allow individuals to submit comments to the agency related to effects on wildlands.
Feedback:
Based on the responses DNR received, the following concerns or statements were the most common:
- Individuals completely opposed to the project (51 responses)
- Questions about how the new lines would help the local community (31 responses)
- Potential negative impacts to wildlands (27 responses)
- Concerns about transparency and communications about the project and its location (20 responses)
- Potential harm to rare or endangered wildlife populations (19 responses)
- Potential impacts to the overall land and environment (19 responses)
- Concern about House Bill 399 and how it could impact the traditional process for new power line corridor approvals (16 responses)
- Questions asking if existing power line right-of-ways could be used (15 responses)
- Concern about herbicide use along and near the power lines (14 responses)
- Concerns about loss of forest or trees related to the proposed project (14 responses)
Top DNR-Specific Questions:
Can existing power line routes be used for this transmission corridor? Would the corridors need to be expanded and, if so, what environmental impacts would that cause?
The legislation approved by the General Assembly related to this proposed project–House Bill 399–notes that NextEra, the project’s developer, is interested in using existing transmission corridors. However, DNR won’t be able to answer this question until the company submits its application for the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. Maryland Code, Public Utilities Article § 7-209 (entitled Alternatives to construction of transmission lines) requires that the Commission examine this issue before a project can obtain a permit.
Which designated wildlands could be impacted?
Type 1 Wildlands in the State include Big Savage Mountain (2,879 acres of Type 1 Wildland within Savage River State Forest), Bear Pen Wildland (1,517 acres of Type 1 Wildland within Savage River State Forest), and Dan’s Mountain Wildland (4,047 acres of Type 1 Wildland within Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area). Based on preliminary information about the study area for this project, any of these could be impacted. NextEra has not yet proposed a specific route for the project.
A Type 1 Wildland is a primitive area which, due to its size and location, is in effect untouched by urban civilization and can offer the experience of solitude and self-reliance. These wildlands are generally at higher elevations and are designated to protect watersheds that are ecologically vulnerable to human interference. As part of the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) review process, the reviewing state agencies work to assess potential impacts, including to natural resources (such as designated wildlands), and will provide this information to the Public Service Commission (PSC) to consider.
What position did DNR take on the General Assembly legislation related to this project (SB399) that affects Wildlands?
DNR did not take a formal position on the bill. If this project applies for a formal Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity with the Public Service Commission–the first formal step of the permitting process–that will begin DNR’s Power Plant Research Program’s formal independent review of the project. That review includes assessments of wildlife and environmental impacts. To ensure that the process isn’t perceived as biased in any way, DNR did not take a formal position on the bill.
DNR staff did raise a number of concerns in the fiscal note that accompanies the legislation. The Department noted that the legislation may jeopardize a portion of the funding the agency receives in federal grants from the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. The State could prevent this from occurring by designating an equivalent amount of land as wildlands to offset the loss from power lines. DNR also noted the various species that would be potentially affected.
How will this project affect wildlife and the environment? Will any rare, threatened, or endangered species be impacted?
The Department’s Power Plant Research Program will conduct an independent, comprehensive assessment of potential wildlife and environmental impacts should the project apply for a CPCN. This assessment will include an evaluation of potential impacts to the 28 known rare, threatened, or endangered species the wildland supports.
How will this project impact the Youghiogheny River Scenic and Wild River corridor?
Once DNR receives the formal footprint of the project, the Department will evaluate the potential impacts to specific resources, such as the Youghiogheny River. The Department has yet to review these impacts, but will share this information later in the process once the evaluation is complete.
Will these transmission lines present a fire risk?
While power lines can present a fire risk, power companies throughout the State mitigate fire risk around power lines by pruning trees and removing vegetation to keep them from falling on the lines. Additionally, transmission lines of this size can be used as a fire break. DNR often uses these areas as fire breaks.
Will Maryland receive monetary or other compensation for the use of wildlands by this project?
NextEra has the option to pay money to offset the loss of wildlands. The amount would be dependent on the area of land lost and other considerations. This is a decision that will be recommended by the State once NextEra submits its application and an impact assessment on the wildlands has been completed.
How will the company mitigate damage to wildlands?
There are options in the law for companies to compensate the State or provide land that could be designated as wildlands to mitigate specific impacts.
What is DNR’s involvement in approving this project?
DNR’s Power Plant Research Program submits an independent assessment of the potential project impacts, including environmental and socio-economic impacts, to the Public Service Commission for its consideration in making its decision whether to grant a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to NextEra for the project. This report is developed in coordination with other state agencies and also provides the reviewing state agencies’ recommendations and recommended license conditions for the Public Service Commission’s consideration if the reviewing state agencies recommend granting the license; this is a requirement of the process. The CPCN process begins when NextEra submits its application to the Public Service Commission for this state permit.
As part of the CPCN review, DNR wildlife biologists and water quality experts will review the project to determine potential impacts to wildlife, streams, and habitats.
Will there be additional public comment opportunities?
The Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity process includes several opportunities for public comment through the Public Service Commission and other avenues, including:
- During the review process, the Public Service Commission will hold public hearings to receive comments on the project and DNR’s Power Plant Research Program will examine these statements to ensure that the topics are addressed in its report or testimony.
- There will be at least one public hearing held in each county impacted by the project near the proposed project location. The respective county or local governments in which the project is proposed to be located are invited to join the Commission in conducting the hearing. The public will be notified of the hearing through local news, social media accounts, websites, nearby signage, and other methods to publicize the hearing.
Will the use of herbicides in the right-of-way be disclosed? What is the impact on local water quality?
Power companies use integrated vegetative management, which may include herbicides to control weeds and other plants when necessary along transmission rights-of-way. However, without more information from the power company about their plans to maintain any future right-of-ways, DNR can’t answer this question at this time.
Will constructing new transmission lines increase the risk to natural resources posed by invasive species on DNR land?
Any disturbance in an otherwise unperturbed area, such as the Wildland areas described in the proposal, is a potential catalyst for herbaceous or other invasive species. As part of its project review, the reviewing state agencies recommend permitting conditions to the Public Service Commission to help mitigate potential negative impacts of a project, such as invasive species impacts.
Other frequently asked questions:
What is the need for this project?
PJM’s Regional Transmission Expansion Planning (RTEP) process identifies system violations to reliability criteria and standards, determines the potential to improve the market efficiency and operational performance of the system, and incorporates any public policy requirements. PJM then develops transmission system enhancements to be integrated into a regional solution set and reviews them with stakeholders before submitting its recommendations to the PJM Board. When developing its 2022 RTEP Window 3, PJM identified reliability issues resulting from a loss of power generation sources and additional electricity demand in the region. In response, NextEra Energy Transmission subsidiaries proposed the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) as a solution, which was selected by PJM for inclusion in the set of projects to help address the reliability needs that were approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
What will the transmission lines look like? How wide would the right-of-way be?
The entire MARL transmission project is a new approximately 105-mile 500-kV line potentially in Allegany County and Garrett County in Maryland, as well as Frederick County, Virginia; Hampshire County, Mineral County, Preston County, and Monongalia County in West Virginia; and Fayette County and Greene County in Pennsylvania. The project also consists of building a new 500/138-kV substation in Frederick County, Virginia.
Will this supply electricity to Marylanders?
Yes, the load will be delivered to the Black Oak Substation in Maryland.
How does this project impact the local economy/natural resources? Will it create jobs?
Information about the project’s impacts will be addressed as part of the Public Service Commission’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity process.
Will the transmission lines go through private property?
At this time, NextERA is considering potential routes and does not have a proposed route. The proposed route and alternatives will be provided in the CPCN application.
Are there alternative technologies/solutions that can be used instead of building new transmission lines?
Alternative transmission technologies, such as high-performance conductors and grid-enhancing technologies, can enhance the capacity of existing transmission lines and may reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, the need for new transmission lines. This issue will be considered as part of the Public Service Commission’s CPCN process.
