Excellent idea - TrailCo is as much a consumer issue as an environmental one. Shall we draft a letter?

 

Jim Sconyers
jim_scon@yahoo.com
603.969.6712

Remember: Mother Nature bats last.

---

From: James Kotcon <jkotcon@wvu.edu>
To: ec@osenergy.org
Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2008 7:02:52 AM
Subject: [EC] Fwd: Fw: Where the Transmission Line Case Stands

A good review of the latest news in the TrAIL case from our friends in Virginia.

I am interested in the idea of asking the Attorney General to intervene/appeal in this case.  The AG has limited authority, but consumer protection is one of the areas he still controls.  It would, however, be a potential conflict of interest for him if it means he is appealing a state agency decision that the AG's Office may have to defend. 

Whaddya Tink?

JBK

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Where the Transmission Line Case Stands

Dear Rebecca,

A lot of you are asking me where the transmission line case stands --what does the Virginia decision mean? will there be an appeal? what's going on in Pennsylvania? what's going on with NIETC? and is there anything we can do to help? Here's my attempt at answering some of these questions:

VA Decision Puts Environment, Landowners and Ratepayers Last
I think the Virginia State Corporation Commission stuck their head in the sand on this one, ignoring alternatives, environmental concerns, and economic realities --placing the desires of a private company above the rights of Virginians. The SCC handed over their regulatory authority to PJM, a group of utilities that, by their own admission, can only propose transmission solutions.

In their decision, the Virginia Commissioners state that the current process "clearly tilts the field towards PJM recommending more and more new transmission lines when other options might be a more efficient use of capital and much less intrusive on the landscape." We think that their decision to approve the line does a disservice to Virginia and should be appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court.

Ask our Attorney General to Appeal the Decision

Urge the VA Attorney General to Appeal
Last week both Delegate Bob Marshall of Prince William and Congressman Wolf (R-10) contacted the Virginia Attorney General, Bob McDonnell, asking him to appeal the SCC Decision. We support Delegate Marshall and Congressman Wolf's call to action, and urge you to contact the Attorney General as well. Use the following link to access Congressman Wolf and Delegate Marshall's letter, and to send your own note to the Attorney General today!

PA May Turn Down the Line, WV Approval Not Yet Final
The Virginia SCC conditioned their approval on approval from both West Virginia and Pennsylvania. West Virginia initially approved the line, but conditioned approval on a number of things (including approval in Pennsylvania). We put in a call to the staff of the West Virginia Public Service Commission on Tuesday, and they described the case as "still open".

The final decision in Pennsylvania is in the hands of the Pennsylvania Utility Commissioners, and they are reviewing the case now. TrAILCo has offered Greene County (Pennsylvania) money and returned right-of-ways in exchange for the County's support for a 1.2 mile segment of the line. Greene County accepted the offer. It is still unknown what, if any, effect this backroom deal will have on the PA Commissioners' decision. It doesn't look like Pennsylvania will be making any decision until the end of the month, at the earliest.

NIETC is Still Out There

If PA turns down the line, the utilities may appeal to the federal government.

If Pennsylvania turns their segment of the line down, it is likely that Dominion and Allegheny will try to use the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) process to get the line approved. They would do so by applying directly to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Piedmont Environmental Council has two separate federal appeals going on, one in the 4th circuit in Richmond contesting FERC's interpretation of the NIETC statute and another appeal in the 9th Circuit related to DOE's implementation of NIETC. I apologize for the number of acronyms in the previous sentence.

At the end of last month we went down to Richmond to hear oral arguments on our 4th Circuit case. The New York Attorney General's office spoke on our behalf. Initial briefs are due on our 9th Circuit case by the end of the year, with a decision expected some time late next year. If you have questions about either of these cases, please contact Rob Marmet at rmarmet@pecva.org .


Please take a couple of minutes to send the Attorney General a quick email requesting his participation in an appeal. While PEC will be appealing, we could use a friend.


Best,

Bri West
Piedmont Environmental Council
bwest@pecva.org
1-540-347-2334

---

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Please Support PEC with a Donation.

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--- On Wed, 10/15/08, Bri West, PEC <pecnews@pecva.org> wrote:

From: Bri West, PEC <pecnews@pecva.org>
Subject: Where the Transmission Line Case Stands
To: "Rebecca Foley" <multiflora123@yahoo.com>
Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2008, 3:56 PM




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Where the Transmission Line Case Stands

Dear Rebecca,

A lot of you are asking me where the transmission line case stands --what does the Virginia decision mean? will there be an appeal? what's going on in Pennsylvania? what's going on with NIETC? and is there anything we can do to help? Here's my attempt at answering some of these questions:
VA Decision Puts Environment, Landowners and Ratepayers Last
I think the Virginia State Corporation Commission stuck their head in the sand on this one, ignoring alternatives, environmental concerns, and economic realities --placing the desires of a private company above the rights of Virginians. The SCC handed over their regulatory authority to PJM, a group of utilities that, by their own admission, can only propose transmission solutions.
In their decision, the Virginia Commissioners state that the current process "clearly tilts the field towards PJM recommending more and more new transmission lines when other options might be a more efficient use of capital and much less intrusive on the landscape." We think that their decision to approve the line does a disservice to Virginia and should be appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court.





Ask our Attorney General to Appeal the Decision
Urge the VA Attorney General to Appeal
Last week both Delegate Bob Marshall of Prince William and Congressman Wolf (R-10) contacted the Virginia Attorney General, Bob McDonnell, asking him to appeal the SCC Decision. We support Delegate Marshall and Congressman Wolf's call to action, and urge you to contact the Attorney General as well. Use the following link to access Congressman Wolf and Delegate Marshall's letter, and to send your own note to the Attorney General today!



PA May Turn Down the Line, WV Approval Not Yet Final
The Virginia SCC conditioned their approval on approval from both West Virginia and Pennsylvania. West Virginia initially approved the line, but conditioned approval on a number of things (including approval in Pennsylvania). We put in a call to the staff of the West Virginia Public Service Commission on Tuesday, and they described the case as "still open".

The final decision in Pennsylvania is in the hands of the Pennsylvania Utility Commissioners, and they are reviewing the case now. TrAILCo has offered Greene County (Pennsylvania) money and returned right-of-ways in exchange for the County's support for a 1.2 mile segment of the line. Greene County accepted the offer. It is still unknown what, if any, effect this backroom deal will have on the PA Commissioners' decision. It doesn't look like Pennsylvania will be making any decision until the end of the month, at the earliest.

NIETC is Still Out There




If PA turns down the line, the utilities may appeal to the federal government.
If Pennsylvania turns their segment of the line down, it is likely that Dominion and Allegheny will try to use the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) process to get the line approved. They would do so by applying directly to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Piedmont Environmental Council has two separate federal appeals going on, one in the 4th circuit in Richmond contesting FERC's interpretation of the NIETC statute and another appeal in the 9th Circuit related to DOE's implementation of NIETC. I apologize for the number of acronyms in the previous sentence.

At the end of last month we went down to Richmond to hear oral arguments on our 4th Circuit case. The New York Attorney General's office spoke on our behalf. Initial briefs are due on our 9th Circuit case by the end of the year, with a decision expected some time late next year. If you have questions about either of these cases, please contact Rob Marmet at rmarmet@pecva.org .


Please take a couple of minutes to send the Attorney General a quick email requesting his participation in an appeal. While PEC will be appealing, we could use a friend.


Best,

Bri West
Piedmont Environmental Council
bwest@pecva.org
1-540-347-2334




Get a Farmland Lost is Farmland Lost Forever Bumper Sticker.
Please Support PEC with a Donation.

This message was sent to multiflora123@yahoo.com. Visit your subscription management page to modify your email communication preferences or update your personal profile. To stop ALL email from The Piedmont Environmental Council, click to remove yourself from our lists (or reply via email with "remove or unsubscribe" in the subject line). 


     

--- On Wed, 10/15/08, Bri West, PEC <pecnews@pecva.org> wrote: From: Bri West, PEC <pecnews@pecva.org> Subject: Where the Transmission Line Case Stands To: "Rebecca Foley" <multiflora123@yahoo.com> Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2008, 3:56 PM Where the Transmission Line Case Stands Dear Rebecca, A lot of you are asking me where the transmission line case stands --what does the Virginia decision mean? will there be an appeal? what's going on in Pennsylvania? what's going on with NIETC? and is there anything we can do to help? Here's my attempt at answering some of these questions: VA Decision Puts Environment, Landowners and Ratepayers Last I think the Virginia State Corporation Commission stuck their head in the sand on this one, ignoring alternatives, environmental concerns, and economic realities --placing the desires of a private company above the rights of Virginians. The SCC handed over their regulatory authority to PJM, a group of utilities that, by their own admission, can only propose transmission solutions. In their decision, the Virginia Commissioners state that the current process "clearly tilts the field towards PJM recommending more and more new transmission lines when other options might be a more efficient use of capital and much less intrusive on the landscape." We think that their decision to approve the line does a disservice to Virginia and should be appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court. Ask our Attorney General to Appeal the Decision Urge the VA Attorney General to Appeal Last week both Delegate Bob Marshall of Prince William and Congressman Wolf (R-10) contacted the Virginia Attorney General, Bob McDonnell, asking him to appeal the SCC Decision. We support Delegate Marshall and Congressman Wolf's call to action, and urge you to contact the Attorney General as well. Use the following link to access Congressman Wolf and Delegate Marshall's letter, and to send your own note to the Attorney General today! PA May Turn Down the Line, WV Approval Not Yet Final The Virginia SCC conditioned their approval on approval from both West Virginia and Pennsylvania. West Virginia initially approved the line, but conditioned approval on a number of things (including approval in Pennsylvania). We put in a call to the staff of the West Virginia Public Service Commission on Tuesday, and they described the case as "still open". The final decision in Pennsylvania is in the hands of the Pennsylvania Utility Commissioners, and they are reviewing the case now. TrAILCo has offered Greene County (Pennsylvania) money and returned right-of-ways in exchange for the County's support for a 1.2 mile segment of the line. Greene County accepted the offer. It is still unknown what, if any, effect this backroom deal will have on the PA Commissioners' decision. It doesn't look like Pennsylvania will be making any decision until the end of the month, at the earliest. NIETC is Still Out There If PA turns down the line, the utilities may appeal to the federal government. If Pennsylvania turns their segment of the line down, it is likely that Dominion and Allegheny will try to use the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) process to get the line approved. They would do so by applying directly to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Piedmont Environmental Council has two separate federal appeals going on, one in the 4th circuit in Richmond contesting FERC's interpretation of the NIETC statute and another appeal in the 9th Circuit related to DOE's implementation of NIETC. I apologize for the number of acronyms in the previous sentence. At the end of last month we went down to Richmond to hear oral arguments on our 4th Circuit case. The New York Attorney General's office spoke on our behalf. Initial briefs are due on our 9th Circuit case by the end of the year, with a decision expected some time late next year. If you have questions about either of these cases, please contact Rob Marmet at rmarmet@pecva.org . Please take a couple of minutes to send the Attorney General a quick email requesting his participation in an appeal. While PEC will be appealing, we could use a friend. Best, Bri West Piedmont Environmental Council bwest@pecva.org 1-540-347-2334 Get a Farmland Lost is Farmland Lost Forever Bumper Sticker. Please Support PEC with a Donation. This message was sent to multiflora123@yahoo.com. Visit your subscription management page to modify your email communication preferences or update your personal profile. To stop ALL email from The Piedmont Environmental Council, click to remove yourself from our lists (or reply via email with "remove or unsubscribe" in the subject line).