Joshua Falls to Yeat Project

This was my complaint. If you don’t know what is being proposed in Orange County, you really need to take the time and understand how it’s going to impact our environment

Subject: Docket ER26-1563

I urge FERC to carefully evaluate PJM’s proposed rule changes and ensure they do not accelerate large infrastructure projects in ways that harm rural communities and agricultural producers.

I operate a commercial beekeeping operation with an apiary located in Locust Grove, Virginia. Honey bees routinely forage up to three miles from their hives in search of nectar and pollen. This means that large transmission corridors, vegetation clearing, and chemical vegetation management practices within that range can directly impact my colonies.

Pollinators are a critical part of agricultural infrastructure. Honey bees support the production of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seed crops throughout Virginia and across the United States. Managed honey bees contribute an estimated $15 billion annually to U.S. agricultural production through pollination services.

Transmission corridor construction and ongoing maintenance frequently involve herbicides and pesticides used to control vegetation. These chemicals can contaminate forage plants and water sources used by honey bees, resulting in colony losses or long-term damage to pollinator health.

If my colonies are killed or severely impacted by pesticide exposure associated with transmission corridor construction or maintenance, my beekeeping business would cease to exist. Beyond the direct economic harm to my operation, the loss of managed pollinators also affects local agriculture, home gardens, and natural ecosystems that depend on pollination.

Policies that fast-track large power generation and transmission infrastructure increase pressure for projects such as the proposed Joshua Falls–Yeat 765 kV transmission line across Central Virginia. FERC should ensure that these rules do not overlook impacts to rural land use, agriculture, and pollinator-dependent ecosystems. Infrastructure planning must consider the long-term environmental and agricultural consequences for the communities where these projects are built.

Thank you for considering the perspectives of rural residents and agricultural producers as part of the federal record.

Mark Geslock

Beekeeper / Owner

Gees Bees

Locust Grove, Virginia