The Orange County School Board is joining the fight against Valley Link.
During its meeting Tuesday, the board voted to submit a comment to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding PJM’s Feb. 27 proposal to expedite interconnection studies of new power generation that meet certain requirements. According to PJM, the idea is to provide an alternate path for advanced projects of significant size to get connected quickly to address the need for greater capacity. Under the fast track option, projects would take 10 months to be awarded a connection agreement, decreased from the current years-long process. The project would have to offer at least 250MW of “accredited unforced capacity” and be able to be in operation within three years. Up to 10 projects would be chosen for the fast track process per year over two years. Approval of the filing is requested by May 28, becoming effective July 31.
The expedited process would allow projects like the Joshua Falls-Yeat Transmission Line Project, which aims to place 765kV lines through nine localities including Orange County, to have its approval process timeline decreased.
In its comment, the board said if large power generation projects are allowed to have an accelerated approval process, rural communities could face increased pressure to allow them to locate there. Instead of fast tracking, the board asks for a “thorough review of all possible alternatives and options to meet the need for large industrial users without sacrificing rural citizens and land they have tended for multiple generations.”
The board of supervisors is also planning to file a comment with FERC. Comments on the proposal are being accepted through March 20 and can be submitted online at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx by searching for docket number ER26-1563-000.
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