An Introduction to the An Introduction to the Mid-Atlantic Power PathwayMid-Atlantic Power Pathway

By Morgan EllisBy Morgan EllisRegional Land Use PlannerRegional Land Use Planner

The Eastern Shore Land The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy Conservancy

The Eastern Shore Land The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy Conservancy

A private, nonprofit land A private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and to the preservation of farmland and habitat on the Eastern Shore.habitat on the Eastern Shore.

Over 39,000 acres protected across 6 Over 39,000 acres protected across 6 counties on the Delmarva Peninsula counties on the Delmarva Peninsula

14 full-time staff and a 24 member 14 full-time staff and a 24 member boardboard

The Mid-Atlantic Power PathwayThe Mid-Atlantic Power Pathway

Source PJM Interconnect

The Mid-Atlantic Power

Pathway

The Original ProjectThe Original Project

230-mile high voltage 230-mile high voltage transmission linetransmission line

Connecting Possum Connecting Possum Point coal-fire Point coal-fire generation to Salem generation to Salem Nuclear power plant Nuclear power plant

RouteRoute– VA- 1 miles (on the VA- 1 miles (on the

Potomac River)Potomac River)– MD- 150 milesMD- 150 miles– DE and NJ- 80 milesDE and NJ- 80 miles

Revised MAPP (May 2009)Revised MAPP (May 2009) 150-mile high voltage 150-mile high voltage

(500kV and 640kV) (500kV and 640kV) transmission line transmission line

The Maryland routeThe Maryland route– 70 miles through Calvert 70 miles through Calvert

and Charles Co.and Charles Co.– 10-12 miles under the 10-12 miles under the

Chesapeake BayChesapeake Bay– 25-27 miles through 25-27 miles through

Dorchester Co. Dorchester Co. – 8 miles through Wicomico 8 miles through Wicomico

Co. Co.

Source: Pepco Holdings INC

MAPP and ESLCMAPP and ESLC

Why did ESLC get involved?Why did ESLC get involved?– Easement Defense Easement Defense

Board PositionBoard Position– Comprehensive Environmental AnalysisComprehensive Environmental Analysis– Comprehensive Review Process Comprehensive Review Process

EngagementEngagement– State of MarylandState of Maryland– Regional (Delmarva)Regional (Delmarva)– Local (Dorchester County)Local (Dorchester County)

ESLC Engagement on MAPPESLC Engagement on MAPP

State LevelState Level– Filed to be official intervenor at the Filed to be official intervenor at the

Public Services Commission levelPublic Services Commission level Regional (Delmarva)Regional (Delmarva)

– Meetings with elected officialsMeetings with elected officials– Media pushMedia push

LocalLocal– Coordinated grassroots efforts with local Coordinated grassroots efforts with local

partnerspartners

Dorchester CountyDorchester County

Source: USGS

Source: Libby Nagel

Source: Libby Nagel

Possible ImpactsPossible Impacts

Eco-TourismEco-Tourism– Harriet Tubman National Historical ParkHarriet Tubman National Historical Park– Blackwater National Wildlife RefugeBlackwater National Wildlife Refuge– The John Smith Water TrailThe John Smith Water Trail

EnvironmentalEnvironmental– Wildlife (i.e. wildlife habitat fragmentation)Wildlife (i.e. wildlife habitat fragmentation)– Water ResourcesWater Resources

EconomicalEconomical– Agricultural Land (i.e. irrigation systems)Agricultural Land (i.e. irrigation systems)– Forest Land FragmentationForest Land Fragmentation

The Need?The Need?

"An unexpected drop in U.S. electricity "An unexpected drop in U.S. electricity consumption has utility companies worried consumption has utility companies worried that the trend isn't a byproduct of the that the trend isn't a byproduct of the economic downturn, and could reflect a economic downturn, and could reflect a permanent shift in consumption that will permanent shift in consumption that will require sweeping change in their require sweeping change in their industry."industry." ~Rebecca Smith, Wall Street ~Rebecca Smith, Wall Street Journal, November 21,2008Journal, November 21,2008

  

Comprehensive Energy PlanningComprehensive Energy Planning

Comprehensive Energy Planning:Comprehensive Energy Planning:1.1. Transmission alternativesTransmission alternatives

2.2. Renewables and local generationRenewables and local generation

3.3. Energy ConservationEnergy Conservation

Source: Blue Water Wind

Source: DOE

Source: MD MEA

Implications for MarylandImplications for Maryland

State wide energy policyState wide energy policy– Current process only allows PSC to consider Current process only allows PSC to consider

one approach for maintaining energy one approach for maintaining energy reliability. reliability.

MD no comprehensive approach for MD no comprehensive approach for meeting future energy needsmeeting future energy needs– Will Maryland continue to be an importer of Will Maryland continue to be an importer of

energy?energy? Impacts on future innovations in the Impacts on future innovations in the

renewable energy field renewable energy field

Implications for the Chesapeake Implications for the Chesapeake BayBay

Only one other utility bay crossingOnly one other utility bay crossing– Telephone north of the Bay Bridge approx. 4 Telephone north of the Bay Bridge approx. 4

milesmiles Bay Crossing Bay Crossing

– 10-12 miles10-12 miles– Buried in trenches 6 to 13-feet wide and 9 feet Buried in trenches 6 to 13-feet wide and 9 feet

deepdeep– Equaling approximately 580 acres of Bay floorEqualing approximately 580 acres of Bay floor

ImpactsImpacts– DirectDirect– Bay and TributariesBay and Tributaries