Pa. decision puts power line’s future in doubt

By Drew Houff
The Winchester Star

Winchester — A recommendation by two administrative law judges in Pennsylvania has placed the proposed Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line (TrAIL) in jeopardy.

The judges ruled Thursday that the 240-mile power line should not be allowed in the Keystone State.

Should the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission agree with the recommendation and decline to approve the line, its approval in Virginia would also be in limbo.

In July, Virginia State Corporation Commission hearing examiner Alexander F. Skirpan Jr. recommended approval of the 93-mile portion of the 500-kilovolt line within the state. It would start at the West Virginia-Virginia border, connect to the Meadow Brook electrical substation in southern Frederick County, and link to a Loudoun County substation.

His recommendation, however, was contingent upon approval by each of the other states — Pennsylvania and West Virginia — involved in the project, a joint effort between Allegheny Energy and Dominion Virginia Power.

The recommendation for denial in Pennsylvania’s action drew a response from at least one of the groups opposed to the line, which the utilities say is necessary in order to avoid blackouts in the growing Northern Virginia region by 2011.

“It validates what we have been saying all along,” Robert Lazaro, director of communications for the Warrenton-based Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC), said in a telephone interview Thursday. “We would like to thank [Rep.] Frank Wolf [R-10th] and the people in Pennsylvania for fighting for us. This is exactly what we have been saying.”

The PEC and other opponents believe that other options could be used to satisfy power demands, negating the need for the massive transmission line.

According to a press statement released by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and made available to the media by the PEC, the judges see little or no need for the line to solve that state’s energy woes.

“The proposed project is a grandiose answer to a minor or even non-existent problem,” they wrote.

“Obviously, we are very happy,” Lazaro added.

Allegheny Energy, which would administer the portion of the project in Frederick County and part of Warren County, issued its own statement in regard to the recommendation for denial from Pennsylvania.

“We are extremely disappointed in this administrative recommendation, which runs counter to the evidence presented,” said Paul J. Evanson, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Pennsylvania-based Allegheny Energy. “PJM Interconnection, the independent regional organization responsible for transmission planning, determined that this line was necessary for the reliable supply of electricity to homes and businesses throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, and mandated its construction.

“We intend to vigorously pursue construction of this line with the [Virginia State Corporation] Commission, particularly the one-mile section that is essential to regional reliability.”

...www.aptrailinfo.com

— Contact Drew Houff at
dhouff@winchesterstar.com