TrAIL?Multistate Power Line Proposal Stirs W.Va. Controversy

Posted on: Tuesday, 19 February 2008.? Charleston Gazette.

Plans for a $1.3 billion power line across northern West Virginia continue to stir controversy, and more such projects are likely on the way. The state Public Service Commission is scheduled to issue a ruling by May 2 on Allegheny Energy's proposed Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line, or TrAIL.

The 240-mile transmission line would carry electricity from western Pennsylvania across West Virginia and into Virginia.

Allegheny wants the PSC to approve the 114 miles of the line that run through West Virginia. TrAIL would enter the state north of Morgantown, and run south and east through Monongalia, Preston and Tucker counties to Mount Storm in Grant County. Then, it would turn east through Hardy and Hampshire counties before entering Virginia.

Allegheny officials say the line is needed to provide cheap and reliable power to big Eastern cities and their growing suburbs. Aging infrastructure, combined with increasing demand, could cause ?rolling blackouts by 2011 that would extend into eastern West Virginia, power company officials say. ?

Commissioners Jon McKinney and Ed Staats are hearing the case. PSC Chairman Michael Albert, appointed last year by Gov. Joe Manchin, recused himself. Albert said he did some work on the project for Allegheny Energy before leaving the Jackson Kelly law firm for the PSC post.

The project has drawn intense opposition from hundreds of West Virginians, who fear it will mar scenic views, lower their property values and otherwise damage rural communities. Project opponents are especially upset that Allegheny could get PSC approval to use the power of eminent domain to force residents to give the company rights of way for the power line. They are also worried that if the PSC doesn't approve the project, or waits too long to decide, the federal government might take over the permitting process under a 2005 law meant to encourage new power lines.

The PSC staff and the agency's consumer advocate have also objected to parts of the power line proposal. In early January, the consumer advocate agreed to drop part of its objections in exchange for Allegheny promising to provide free electricity to residents along the power line path. The company also agreed to limit clearcutting and not use aerial herbicide spraying to maintain its right of way.

PSC consultants have argued the Allegheny proposal is not "the most economical or cost-effective means" to cure potential northeast power outages, and a PSC staff engineer concluded the company did not choose the best and least environmentally damaging route.

Developers of two natural gas-fired power plants proposed for Virginia and Maryland are also fighting the TrAIL proposal. Competitive Power Ventures Inc. argues its plants would eliminate the need for the 500-kilovolt transmission line. Reports from CPV Warren experts, filed with the PSC, conclude the gas-fired plants are a better solution to electrical reliability problems identified by PJM Interconnections, a private organization that maintains the regional power grid.

"If the generation resource cap is in the East, build generation resources, such as CPV Warren, in the East, not a massive transmission line such as the one proposed here to support the delivery of power and energy from existing and proposed generation in the West," George C. Loehr, a consultant for CPV Warren, said in a prepared statement filed with the PSC.

To contact staff writer Ken Ward Jr., use e-mail or call 348- 1702.

(c) 2008 Sunday Gazette - Mail; Charleston, W.V..

________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com