Public Service Commission Reviewed Resiliency Link Testimony
The state commission examined rebuttal testimony regarding the proposed energy transmission project in West Virginia.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Utilities
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The West Virginia Public Service Commission has received extensive rebuttal testimony from NextEra and WATI officials concerning the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link Project. The filings follow ongoing debates regarding energy load forecasts and the project's necessity for regional reliability.
Why it matters
The project aims to address projected thermal and voltage reliability violations identified by PJM for the 2027-2028 period. However, opponents contend that current load projections are inflated, especially after the cancellation of several planned data center projects.
NextEra projected the project will generate $133 million in property tax payments and $65 million in direct payments to landowners. Additionally, the proposal estimates the creation of 200 to 300 construction jobs in West Virginia.
The players
Public Service Commission
This is the state regulatory agency responsible for overseeing utility rates and the siting of infrastructure projects in West Virginia.
NextEra
This energy company is the developer behind the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link Project and the party seeking approval for the transmission line.
Anthony Campbell
He is the president of WATI who submitted formal testimony regarding the proposed energy project.
PJM
This regional transmission organization coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia.
The details
NextEra officials submitted 341 pages of testimony, while WATI President Anthony Campbell provided 29 pages, addressing concerns about the route and load data. The project involves a transmission line passing through four West Virginia counties, with eight residential dwellings currently situated within 80 feet of the proposed path.
Timeline
An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for the end of October 2026.
PJM has projected reliability violations to occur by the 2027-2028 period.
The 2030 summer peak energy forecast has risen significantly.
Market Landscape
The proposal follows the standardized requirements set by the PJM reliability planning cycle for upgrading grid infrastructure. This development mirrors similar regional efforts to reconcile increasing energy demands with local land use and environmental considerations.
Residents and landowners in the project path face potential changes to their property proximity and tax landscape. Meanwhile, the project's impact on long-term electricity reliability and costs depends on whether the commission accepts the updated energy load forecasts.
The takeaway
The dispute highlights the tension between meeting long-term grid reliability requirements and local concerns regarding infrastructure siting. Success hinges on whether developers can justify projected energy demand amidst shifting data center construction plans.
What happens next
The Public Service Commission is scheduled to conduct an evidentiary hearing for the project at the end of October 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the current Utilities regulatory environment in West Virginia.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Dominion Post.
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