Monongalia resident asks commission for clarity on NextEra transmission route, commissioners say county has no formal role

Juliet Marlier, a Monongalia County resident, told the County Commission on May 28 that a proposed route for the NextEra Energy transmission project — described at public open houses as the Bridal Atlantic Resiliency Link in meeting remarks — may run through land her family has owned since 1959 and asked what benefits, taxes or payment-in-lieu-of-taxes arrangements the county would receive and how the public would be notified of regulatory hearings.

Marlier said she practices woodland stewardship and does not want her property “industrialized,” and she asked whether NextEra would pay taxes or receive tax breaks and how the public would learn about hearings or regulatory proceedings.

The commission responded that, from the county’s perspective, it has not been involved in the project and has not negotiated any payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements. A county commissioner told Marlier the Public Utility Commission typically handles major transmission decisions and that the county had not received formal requests related to the project. Commissioners said they would be willing to be educated about the proposal and invited Marlier to speak with them after the meeting for follow-up.

Marlier asked specifically whether details such as tax treatment, payments, or PILOT arrangements were available; a commissioner said the county had not received those details and that residents should expect most approvals and hearings to be processed through the state regulatory body rather than the county. The commissioner offered to meet after the session for additional questions and to help connect Marlier with more information if available.

The exchange occurred during the public-comment period; the commission did not take a formal vote or adopt a position on the project during the meeting. The transcript shows the commission acknowledged awareness of the project only from news reports and open houses and said it had not been asked to participate in any negotiations or agreements.

Residents seeking more information about a proposed transmission line should look for filings and notices from the state Public Utility Commission and may request follow-up from county staff if the company seeks county action or a PILOT agreement.

No formal county action on NextEra’s project was recorded at the May 28 meeting.