Residents Voice Concerns Over Major Powerline, Development Projects Across Mid-Atlantic, Midwest

Several communities across the United States are grappling with concerns related to proposed or ongoing powerline and development projects. In Maryland, Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) received a federal ruling allowing them to conduct land surveys on private properties for a 70-mile transmission line, prompting frustration among residents who feel their property rights are being overlooked. Similarly, in Michigan, the Michigan Electric Transmission Company (METC) plans to build over 90 miles of high-voltage power lines, including a route that impacts a local airport, raising worries about livelihood and property disregard. Meanwhile, residents in West Virginia's Monongalia County expressed apprehension about rising utility rates and questioned the tangible benefits of a new power line project, urging companies to commit to local job creation. Other communities, such as Meridian, Idaho, and Belleville, Ontario, are voicing broader infrastructure and safety concerns tied to rapid development, including traffic congestion, school overcrowding, and uncertainties about future taxes and services. These cases highlight the ongoing tensions between infrastructure expansion and community impact, emphasizing the need for transparent communication and local involvement in planning processes.