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With stipulations, PSC agrees to Fourmile waiver

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

FROSTBURG — The Maryland Public Service Commission is recommending that Fourmile Wind Energy LLC’s request of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity waiver application be granted. However, it has placed conditions on the Fourmile Ridge wind project, according to a letter to David Collins, executive PSC secretary, from PSC Office of Staff Counsel.

“In light of the limitations the commission has recognized with respect to wind energy CPCN, staff has no objection to granting the waiver. However, staff notes that the applicant has not filed a final interconnection agreement between the applicant, PJM and Potomac Edison,” said the letter.

Fourmile Wind Energy’s request for approval to construct up to 24 wind turbines in eastern Garrett County is listed on the draft administrative agenda for Wednesday’s PSC meeting.

A set of similar conditions allowed Synergics to construct the Roth Rock project but precluded it from going into operation until those conditions were met.

PSC staff is recommending that the same conditions that Synergics met when building the Roth Rock project be applied when building the Fourmile Ridge project.

Two weeks prior to putting any portion of the project in service, Fourmile Wind Energy shall file with the commission a listing of transmission system improvements re-quired by PJM as well as a listing of the requirements of the interconnecting transmission line owner and certify that interconnection requirements have been met, according to Craig Taborsky, electric generation transmission engineer, on behalf of the PSC.

“The project should not have an adverse effect on the grid providing it meets the requirements of the PJM’s impact studies and interconnection service agreement,” said Taborsky.

One of the conditions suggests that construction on the project begin within one year of approval of the waiver and that it must have at least one functioning wind turbine within two years.

An exemption from the CPCN requirement will put the Fourmile Ridge wind project on the fast track.

Construction has been slated for spring.

Taborsky also recommends that Fourmile Wind Energy grant state agencies access provided proper notice is given and any upgrades to the transmission system are required to be in service after the startup date and should be listed with a completion date.

Another recommendation is that expansion, including more turbines or higher output, will be subjected to further review by the PJM and PSC.

Synergics developed the Roth Rock project on Backbone Mountain, which began operation in 2011. That project contains 20 wind turbines at the tune of $110 million.

The Senate bill that requires wind turbines in Garrett County to comply with certain setbacks passed and is awaiting Gov. Martin O’Malley’s signature or veto. The house bill that was cross-filed with the Senate bill failed.

“The legislation will not be effective until Oct. 1, 2013, so Fourmile, if their plans are as expected, will not follow under any of the conditions of the legislation,” said Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator. “The legislation is an act of emergency measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, and shall take effect from the date it is enacted.”

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.

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Jay Ferguson

Who I Am My name is Jay Ferguson, and I am a lifelong resident of the Deep Creek Lake area. I am also co-owner of the real estate side of Taylor Made. I have been in the real estate business for 21+ years now and I LOVE what I do! I have to say, my career really took off when I co-founded the real estate side of Taylor Made in 2014. Its been an amazing experience, building a real estate company from the ground up and achieving so much so quickly! In August 2016, we purchased Long & Foster Real Estate Deep Creek, where I had started my career in 2000. In 2018, we on-boarded virtually every agent from Coldwell Banker Deep Creek Realty as they closed up shop and the real estate family grew even more! We now have over 40 sales agents and have expanded to West Virginia and Pennsylvania, as well. Taylor Made is the #1 vacation rental company at Deep Creek with over 475 vacation rental homes, and over one hundred thousand yearly visitors. Its amazing what we have accomplished using the principles of honesty, teamwork and customer service! Personally, my wife Jessica and I enjoy traveling and especially spending time in the outdoors, hiking and exploring the many diverse areas that Garrett County is naturally blessed with. We have raised two wonderful children here, Kayleah (22) and Noah (13). In the summer, we love spending time on the water with friends & family and enjoying the lake life! We are both active in our church, our community & local school activities, and we fill our schedule with plenty of volunteer efforts. I currently serve on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity. I am proud to say that I was named Deep Creek Time’s Favorite ‘Community Champion’ in 2019. I was also named Garrett County Realtor of the Year in 2018-19, as well. I really enjoy promoting my hometown. I am very proud of the resort area that has developed over my lifetime and look forward to growing the area even more! Deep Creek Lake has been described as ‘The Lake Tahoe of the east', and I think that speaks volumes about the potential to own property here! Deep Creek Lake isn't really a town or city by itself; it's comprised of three towns: Oakland, Swanton & McHenry, Maryland. I am very passionate about my hometown and am impressed with how many people know about it as we travel around the country. Deep Creek Lake is an amazing place to visit and even better place to live! During the pandemic in 2020, our market exploded and more and more people left their primary residence in the city to live here permanently. With distance learning in schools and tele-commuting becoming the ‘norm’, many more people were drawn to the area to ‘live where they love to play’. Why You Want Me Working for You: In addition to being an owner, I am consistently one of the top-producing agents in the entire area and the Associate Broker of record for Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales. I have 21+ years of experience and I am a problem solver. There aren’t many situations that I have not encountered and I have a strategy for almost every scenario that you may encounter. I have extensively trained in all areas of real estate & emerging technologies, and also have trained as an appraiser, as well as served as a full-time Broker. I have a strong knowledge of the industry, as well as many trusted local contacts & affiliations that allow me to perform at a very high level and deliver results. I have a great deal of respect for my peers in this industry and have strong working relationships that I would love to put to work for you. Call me to discuss your situation - I know I can be of great service to you & others you care about! Honesty. Integrity. Results.