The Tygart Valley Conservation District has joined the fight against the Valley North Transmission Line Project. The Board adopted a resolution opposing the project August 10.
The resolution was signed by Chair James Dean. This resolution follows on the heels of the Tucker County Commission’s similar measure July 22 in which the Tucker County Commissioners formally supported private property rights and opposed the project via resolution.
In the resolution, the Board cites its charge of conservation of soil, water and natural resources “for the benefit of current and future generations,” and the project’s perceived threat on productive farmlands, forested habitats, rivers and wetlands, as well as the impact on sensitive wildlife such as whippoorwills and federally listed species and aquatic species in the watershed as some of the reasons for their opposition to the project.
Other opposition for the Board includes independent analysis that showed “the primary driver of this infrastructure is electricity demand from data centers in neighboring states.” This demand the Board said placed a “disproportionate environmental and economic burden” on West Virginia and its rural landscape and rate payers with limited local benefit.
The Board also argued the project’s routes posed a risk of soil erosion, sedimentation in waterways, the fragmentation of vital wildlife corridors and “the long-term degradation of the scenic and ecological values that conservation districts work to protect.”
The resolution states that the Board urges the company and state officials to explore what they call “truly superior alternatives” such as: microgrids, behind-the-meter generation at data centers, upgrades to existing corridors or other distributed solutions “that minimize impacts on the land, water and wildlife while addressing regional energy needs more efficiently.”
The resolution also called for comprehensive environmental, agricultural and cumulative impact studies to be conducted to include consideration of effects on rare, threatened and endangered species before any further project advancement and engagement with local conservation districts and landowners.
The Tygart Valley Conservation District joins several other entities in the fight against the controversial project. Besides Tucker County, who passed a resolution supporting private property rights and opposing the project, the following have also passed measure opposing the project:
• The Frederick County, VA Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution opposing the project and has set aside $250,000 for legal fees.
• The Clarke County, VA Board of Supervisors have adopted formal resolutions strongly opposing the project and pledged joint legal funds alongside the Conservation Easement Authority.
• The Jefferson County Commission has passed multiple resolutions opposing the project.
• The Calhoun County Commission has unanimously passed and signed a resolution in opposition.
• The Upshur County Commission has adopted a resolution supporting private property rights and opposing the project.
• The Barbour County Commission adopted an early formal resolution against the line.
• The Preston County Commission officially approved a resolution expressing total opposition.
• The Roane County Commission voted unanimously to oppose the project via formal filing/letter stance.
• The Harrison County Commission publicly issued an opposition stance and scheduled formal resolution releases.
• The Weston City Council unanimously approved a resolution formally opposing the project.
• State Senator Bill Hamilton (R-Upshur) and State Senator Robbie Morris (R-11th District) have both come out in opposition to the project.
• Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns released a video on Friday, August 21 in which he stated that he is “gravely worried” about the project’s impact on historic sites, particularly in Jefferson County and the lower Shenandoah Valley in VA.
