Today's Associated Press article - "DOMINION CRITICIZED ON N.VA. DEALINGS...Opponents allege it bought off foe of proposed power line", supports what we have been expressing for days regarding their purchase of CPV Warren.

To quote an excerpt from my March 18th blog, is their intent to "Take all the competition out in one fell swoop?"

It is very naive on their part to have believed this acquisition wouldn't raise significant questions in the minds of their opponents in the transmission line case, and the public at-large.

The acquisition could be a smart move by Dominion if they plan on using the facility to their advantage; beginning by moving forward quickly with RFPs on the construction.

According to recent testimony by Ronnie Bailey, a transmission line specialist for Dominion, the updated load flow models they ran show that the addition of CPV Warren won't provide any significant advantage to mitigate the need for the new transmission lines. Who to believe?

Competitive Power Ventures' Chris Ganley said the company still opposes the transmission line... "if the line is defeated in West Virginia, the Virginia case will be moot." Dominion has no intention of letting that happen.

Dominion officials have said from day one of the SCC hearings that they will keep their "options open" in the event the SCC denies approval for the lines. They have every intention to usurp states' rights by allowing the federal government to be the pawn in this chess game vis-à-vis the designation of the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor. Virginia's recent appeal to overturn the designation has yet to play itself out. Our belief is the NIETC will not survive in its current form.

The CPV Warren purchase may open up a Pandora's Box for Dominion. It certainly casts a dark shadow...or is it a rolling blackout!