The Winchester Star, October 10, 2008

by Drew Houff

WINCHESTER — Tuesday’s decision by the State Corporation Commission to approve a high-voltage power line that across Northern Virginia has disappointed some regional lawmakers.

Five state legislators, including Sen. Jill H. Vogel, R-Warrenton, criticized the SCC’s authorization for the Virginia portion of the 500-kilovolt transmission line, a joint project of Allegheny Energy and Dominion Virginia Power.

Vogel, in a telephone interview Thursday, said her concern was that the Virginia SCC is allowing the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to have the final say on the 240-mile project, which would stretch from Washington County, Pa., through West Virginia and into Virginia, stopping in Loudoun County.

“There is a big belief that Virginia should not let Pennsylvania make a decision for us,” Vogel said. “We should be a leader on energy policy and on conservation. The people in my district will be most affected by these power lines.”

She said these residents, including people in Frederick County, can least afford for their property values to be decreased because of the massive power line.

The Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Co. (TrAIL), a subsidiary of Pennsylvania-based Allegheny Energy, will be responsible for the portion of the line that enters Frederick County from West Virginia, connects to the Meadow Brook electrical substation south of Stephens City, and continues into Warren County.

The remainder of TrAIL would travel on to a substation in Loudoun County and be the responsibility of Dominion.

Joining Vogel in expressing their concerns about the SCC’s approval of the line were Sen. Richard Stuart, R-Montross, and Dels. Clifford L. “Clay” Athey Jr., R-Front Royal; Scott Lingamfelter, R-Woodbridge; and Mark Cole, R-Fredericksburg.

Athey, through a press release from Vogel’s office, also criticized the SCC.

“The SCC’s decision is terribly misguided and overlooks important evidence of conservation and alternative energies that are key factors in this decision,” he said.

Allegheny and Dominion, along with PJM Interconnection, which oversees the Mid-Atlantic power grid, say the transmission line is necessary in order to avoid rolling blackouts in heavily populated Northern Virginia as early as 2011.

If Pennsylvania follows Virginia’s and West Virginia’s approval of the TrAIL project, construction of the line would begin next year.

...www.aptrailinfo.com
www.scc.virginia.gov