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An Introduction to the Mid-Atlantic Power Pathway. By Morgan Ellis Regional Land Use Planner The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy. The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy. A private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and habitat on the Eastern Shore.
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An Introduction to the Mid-Atlantic Power Pathway By Morgan Ellis Regional Land Use Planner The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy
The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy • A private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and habitat on the Eastern Shore. • Over 39,000 acres protected across 6 counties on the Delmarva Peninsula • 14 full-time staff and a 24 member board
The Mid-Atlantic Power Pathway The Mid-Atlantic Power Pathway Source PJM Interconnect
The Original Project • 230-mile high voltage transmission line • Connecting Possum Point coal-fire generation to Salem Nuclear power plant • Route • VA- 1 miles (on the Potomac River) • MD- 150 miles • DE and NJ- 80 miles
150-mile high voltage (500kV and 640kV) transmission line The Maryland route 70 miles through Calvert and Charles Co. 10-12 miles under the Chesapeake Bay 25-27 miles through Dorchester Co. 8 miles through Wicomico Co. Revised MAPP (May 2009) Source: Pepco Holdings INC
MAPP and ESLC • Why did ESLC get involved? • Easement Defense • Board Position • Comprehensive Environmental Analysis • Comprehensive Review Process • Engagement • State of Maryland • Regional (Delmarva) • Local (Dorchester County)
ESLC Engagement on MAPP • State Level • Filed to be official intervenor at the Public Services Commission level • Regional (Delmarva) • Meetings with elected officials • Media push • Local • Coordinated grassroots efforts with local partners
Dorchester County Source: Libby Nagel Source: Libby Nagel Source: USGS
Possible Impacts • Eco-Tourism • Harriet Tubman National Historical Park • Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge • The John Smith Water Trail • Environmental • Wildlife (i.e. wildlife habitat fragmentation) • Water Resources • Economical • Agricultural Land (i.e. irrigation systems) • Forest Land Fragmentation
The Need? "An unexpected drop in U.S. electricity consumption has utility companies worried that the trend isn't a byproduct of the economic downturn, and could reflect a permanent shift in consumption that will require sweeping change in their industry." ~Rebecca Smith, Wall Street Journal, November 21,2008
Comprehensive Energy Planning Comprehensive Energy Planning: • Transmission alternatives • Renewables and local generation • Energy Conservation Source: MD MEA Source: DOE Source: Blue Water Wind
Implications for Maryland • State wide energy policy • Current process only allows PSC to consider one approach for maintaining energy reliability. • MD no comprehensive approach for meeting future energy needs • Will Maryland continue to be an importer of energy? • Impacts on future innovations in the renewable energy field
Implications for the Chesapeake Bay • Only one other utility bay crossing • Telephone north of the Bay Bridge approx. 4 miles • Bay Crossing • 10-12 miles • Buried in trenches 6 to 13-feet wide and 9 feet deep • Equaling approximately 580 acres of Bay floor • Impacts • Direct • Bay and Tributaries