Residents and business owners press commission on transmission lines and county SAIDO ordinance ahead of vote

At a lengthy public‑comment period April 21, multiple residents and business owners urged Hampshire County commissioners to be rigorous in reviewing proposed transmission and wind projects, and asked the commission to provide countywide context ahead of a pending SAIDO ordinance vote.

Robin Mills, who described past experience intervening against regional transmission proposals, urged the commission to adopt a position favoring reuse of existing rights‑of‑way and technical mitigation ("taller towers and more conductors") to avoid new land take and reduce costs. Mr. Mills said that approach proved effective in an earlier case and could limit new acquisitions.

A representative of Capon Springs (identified in the transcript as Mr. Bellingham) described the resort's concerns about groundwater springs and long‑term viability, saying the business had sought independent hydrogeologic review and concluded there are ways to manage potential impacts but that outcomes matter to employees, guests and heritage operations. He urged commissioners to consider how county policy choices could affect individual businesses.

Delegate Hildenbrand (a state lawmaker, identified in the transcript) addressed the commission, described the current regulatory landscape and encouraged residents to attend upcoming Public Service Commission hearings (June dates were noted) and to contact federal elected officials. He outlined legislative options previously proposed to change how transmission projects are evaluated and said such changes face legal and political limits.

Callers also requested release of a planning commission renewable‑energy survey whose results had not been published; one commenter asked the commission to provide those survey results before the upcoming ordinance hearing. Several speakers urged broad public engagement ahead of the commission's ordinance vote next week on an item described as the SAIDO amendment.

Commissioners acknowledged the comments, reiterated that the county's upcoming SAIDO vote is countywide and not intended to target one business, and said they would weigh both countywide regulatory equity and site‑specific impacts. The commission and Delegate Hildenbrand also discussed intervener status at PSC hearings and the need for clear submissions to regulators.

The meeting record shows no formal action to adopt a position on the transmission projects during this session; the public‑comment period concluded with the commission noting the hearing scheduled the following week.