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Updated every weekday as availableDOE tries a ’fundamentally different’ approach to modernize the nation’s power grid
E&E Publishing, January 18, 2012
"The Energy Department is preparing to change how it assesses congestion on the high-voltage power line network as it seeks to revitalize the stalled transmission policy process created in the 2005 Energy Policy Act, DOE senior adviser Lauren Azar says."
PEC is pleased that the Department of Energy is not limiting its choices to high voltage transmission solutions. We have long advocated for equal treatment for demand response, energy efficiency and clean distributed generation. PEC will be following the 2012 Congestion Study closely.
Ashburn Overhead Transmission Line Open House Tomorrow
Leesburg Today, October 20, 2011
"Dominion Virginia Power will hold an open house Thursday from 5-8 p.m. to inform Ashburn area residents about a proposed new overhead 230kV transmission line the company is planning on Waxpool Road. Dominion Media and Community Relations Manager Le-Ha Anderson and Communications Manager Carla Picard said the public information and input session will be held at the Embassy Suites Conference Center, located at 44610 Waxpool Road."
Dominion intensifies search for new route
Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, October 14, 2011
"Dominion Virginia Power got so much feedback from King George County residents about its proposed high-voltage line to Dahlgren that it needed more time to explore all the options. That’s why Dominion is a few weeks behind getting its application ready for Virginia’s State Corporation Commission, said Communications Manager Carla Picard. "
The Tale of a Survivor in the Power Line Wars
New York Times, June 3, 2011
"Electricity has begun flowing now over a 220-mile high-voltage power line that fishhooks from southern Pennsylvania into West Virginia and then into the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. It is one of only two major backbone additions to the mid-Atlantic transmission grid in two decades... The Piedmont Council’s focus on demand response prompted Virginia regulators to press PJM for a re-evaluation of the need for the PATH line, says the council’s president, Chris Miller. That led to PJM’s decision to suspend PATH based on the slowdown in electricity demand growth and the increase in demand response programs in PJM. The TrAIL project also led, indirectly, to a stunning policy reversal on siting transmission lines"
Dominion activates controversial power line
Fauquier Times-Democrat, May 18, 2011
"Two months ahead of schedule, Dominion Virginia Power in April flipped the switch on its controversial 500,000-volt transmission line through parts of Fauquier and adjoining counties... The Meadow Brook project met with considerable opposition from the Warrenton-based Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC), local governments, including Fauquier’s, and organizations founded to stop it. They doubted the need for the transmission line and raised concerns about its potentially negative visual, land-use and environmental effects. "
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Updated every week as availableThe Tale of a Survivor in the Power Line Wars
New York Times, June 3, 2011
"Electricity has begun flowing now over a 220-mile high-voltage power line that fishhooks from southern Pennsylvania into West Virginia and then into the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. It is one of only two major backbone additions to the mid-Atlantic transmission grid in two decades... The Piedmont Council’s focus on demand response prompted Virginia regulators to press PJM for a re-evaluation of the need for the PATH line, says the council’s president, Chris Miller. That led to PJM’s decision to suspend PATH based on the slowdown in electricity demand growth and the increase in demand response programs in PJM. The TrAIL project also led, indirectly, to a stunning policy reversal on siting transmission lines"
Opponents of PATH Say “It’s a Very Good Day”
Clarke Daily News, February 28, 2011
"This morning, regional electric grid manager, PJM Interconnection, issued a public statement that they have ordered development of the PATH transmission line to halt. The Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) is a multi-billion dollar proposal to build a 275-mile long 765-kV transmission line starting at the Amos coal plant in West Virginia, through West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland."
See statement from PEC on this good news.
Companies ask to withdraw PATH project
Loudoun Times Mirror, February 28, 2011
"Two power companies have filed to withdraw their Virginia State Corporation Commission application for the Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline after new statistics show the project will not be needed for the next several years. If built, PATH, proposed by American Electric Power and Allegheny Energy (now FirstEnergy Corp.), would have been 275 miles and 765,000 volts. It would have stretched from West Virginia to Maryland, crossing Loudoun County north of Lovettsville for about 10 miles along the way. "
See statement from PEC on this good news.
AEP, FirstEnergy Suspend $2 Billion Transmission Project
Wall Street Journal, February 28, 2011
"FirstEnergy Corp. and American Electric Power Inc. said Monday they are suspending plans to build a $2 billion high-voltage line from West Virginia to Maryland amid concerns about the slow economic recovery. "
See statement from PEC on this good news.
$2B power line project from WVa to Md. suspended
Washington Post, March 3, 2011
"Economic forecasts of weaker-than-expected demand for electricity in the Mid-Atlantic states prompted two utilities on Monday to suspend plans to build a $2 billion power line from West Virginia to Maryland."
See statement from PEC on this good news.
Delegates urge PSC to examine PATH alternatives
Martinsburg Journal, February 17, 2011
"Several members of the state House of Delegates recently sponsored a resolution aimed at convincing the West Virginia Public Service Commission to explore alternatives to the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline. "
Elected officials sound off against PATH project
Loudoun Times Mirror, February 4, 2011
"Several Loudoun County elected officials showed up at Loudoun Valley High School in Purcellville Feb. 3 to voice their opposition to the proposed Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline during a Virginia State Corporation Commission public hearing on the application. "
Planning Commission OKs Dominion Substation Proposal
Sun Gazette, January 16, 2011
"A controversial Dominion Virginia Power substation proposed for the West Falls Church rail yard cleared a hurdle Jan. 13 when the Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously recommended its approval to the Board of Supervisors."
PATH Transmission Line Applicants Propose Fourth Extension of Timeline
WTRF, December 21, 2010
"Partners in the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline have requested a fourth delay in the procedural schedule with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, citing a new forecast of the demand for electricity...The filing follows by 10 days a PSC staff call to either dismiss the PATH application or delay the process. Staff cited changes in the regional grid, including a rebuild of the Mt. Storm-Doubs transmission line. "
Martinsburg Journal, December 11, 2010
"CHARLES TOWN - Staff attorneys for the West Virginia Public Service Commission filed a motion recommending dismissal of the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline’s certificate application Friday morning. "
Northern Virginia Daily, December 6, 2010
"The Frederick County Board of Supervisors has filed to participate in state regulators’ consideration of the high-voltage power line project known as PATH. County Attorney Roderick B. Williams recently submitted a request to the State Corporation Commission that gives the county the right to present argument to regulators, who ultimately will decide whether the project can be built...The Sierra Club and Piedmont Environmental Council also filed notice. "
Supervisors Challenge Power Utility on North and South Fronts
Clarke Daily News, November 17, 2010
"The Clarke County Board of Supervisors spent much of their Tuesday work session discussing electricity generation and delivery, albeit for areas outside of Clarke County. Dominion power plants and lines topped the Supervisor’s agenda. "
Northern Virginia Daily, October 6, 2010
"Two power companies’ latest application to build a high-voltage transmission line through Frederick County that would serve the Washington area and points northeast has done nothing to sway a local congressman’s opposition to the project. In a letter Tuesday, Rep. Frank Wolf, R-10th, says the proposed 275-mile Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline remains "ill-conceived," and he urges the State Corporation Commission to suspend proceedings in the case and reject the application outright. "
This link, which did not work in yesterday's Piedmont News, has been fixed.
SCC Staff: PATH Application Incomplete, Info Needed On Alternatives
Leesburg Today, September 28, 2010
"The State Corporation Commission staff gave a quick response to PATH-VA’s Sept. 20 refiling of the application to construct 31 miles of its proposed 278-mile 765kV transmission line from West Virginia to Maryland through northern Loudoun, filing a motion to delay the proceedings because the application is incomplete. The Virginia portion crosses the counties of Clarke, Frederick and Loudoun. "
Transmission Lines: Why We Fight
Piedmont View, September 16, 2010
"This summer, an unwanted clear-cut tore through the edge of the woods at Rick and Virginia Dorkey’s cattle farm near Bealeton, in Fauquier County. Construction crews put up a line of gigantic metal towers on the farm, jutting far above the trees. It’s impossible not to see them. The massive structures dominate the views across hayfields and pastures. A shiny metal tower appears through their kitchen window. "
This article appears in the Piedmont View, PEC's membership newsletter.
Loudoun Meeting Planned As Path Power Line Again Advances
Leesburg Today, July 15, 2010
"PATH Allegheny’s intent to re-file an application with the State Corporation Commission to build the Virginia segment of the controversial three-state 750kV transmission line it first proposed three years ago now has set a train of events in motion. The National Park Service has scheduled several public meetings in advance of the agency’s Environmental Impact Statement. Meetings in West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia, including one in Loudoun, will begin next week."
Law To Require Localities To Pay For Buried Transmission Lines
Leesburg Today, May 28, 2010
"Starting July 1, residents and local governments will find it more difficult to lobby the State Corporation Commission to force power companies to place new transmission lines underground. Each locality through which the line would have to request the underground project and then is to pay the additional costs."
Lawmakers Move To Slow PATH Project
Frederick News-Post, February 23, 2010
"ANNAPOLIS — Several Frederick County state lawmakers are moving forward with legislation to slow the proposal to build a high-voltage power line across the southern part of the county. The 225-mile, $1.8 billion Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline would span three states and has an application pending before the Maryland Public Service Commission. "
Virginia Grants Path Request To Withdraw Application
West Va. Public Broadcasting, January 7, 2010
"A regulatory commission has granted a request to withdraw an application for the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline. Allegheny Energy and American Electric Power may now adjust and re-file the application for the project."
Taking Distributed Energy Seriously
Grist, January 14, 2010
"This week, in The New York Times’ Room for Debate, I was involved in a discussion on the brewing war among environmentalists over building large power plants on sensitive land—specifically, in this case, a solar thermal power plant in the Mojave desert."
Two-State Power Line Is Put Off
Wall Street Journal, January 4, 2010
"Plans by two big utilities to build a $1.8 billion transmission line from West Virginia to Maryland stumbled this past week when officials said it might not be needed as soon as once expected because of less-robust electricity demand...Environmentalists are fighting the project. "This line is a conduit for coal-fired power," said Rob Marmet, an attorney for Piedmont Environmental Council in Warrenton, Va. "But even if it were being built for wind power, we’d oppose it because it is not necessary.""
Energy Conservation Helps Stymie A Major Transmission Line
New York Times , January 7, 2010
"Transmission projects have traditionally come under attack by environmental, scenic and "not in my backyard" partisans. Now a major mid-Atlantic power line proposal may be held up instead by a weak economy and a growing energy conservation movement..."We knew these efficiency measures were in place. They have been ignoring the facts right along," said Malcolm Baldwin, who owns a farm in Lovettsville in Loudoun County, Va., and is a board member of the Piedmont Environmental Council. The council opposes the PATH project and a second major project, the TRAIL power line... "
PATH Seeks To Withdraw, Suspend Richmond Hearings
Leesburg Today, December 23, 2009
"Representatives of PATH-VA filed several motions Monday with the Virginia State Corporation Commission aimed at scuttling-for now-its application to construct the Virginia portion of an almost 280-mile 765kV transmission line...The claim that the PATH line is needed to address power capacity shortfalls is at the crux of the struggle and the legal maneuvers come at a time when national electrical statistics show power usage is flat or declining, in part because of increased conservation methods by users and in part because of the economy."
Earlier this month, the SCC staff recommended that PATH be denied based on lack of need.
Dominion Changes Plan, Cites Slower Power Growth
Leesburg Today, December 16, 2009
"...A shift in Virginia Dominion’s plans announced earlier this year to upgrade its transmission line between Arcola and Middleburg might fuel that debate further. Late last week, Dominion announced that, because of "changing types of customers and conservation practices," the company was changing the scope of its plans to upgrade the line from 115kV to 230kV between its Loudoun Substation in Arcola and the Middleburg substation. "
Va. Staff Again Recommends Denial Of PATH Project
Frederick News-Post, December 11, 2009
"A project to put a high-voltage transmission line across three states is facing another obstacle in its path. On Wednesday, the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s staff again recommended the denial of the proposed PATH system in the Old Dominion. After reviewing testimony on the issue, the SCC staff is advising the commission, which oversees utilities in the state, to turn down the proposal from Allegheny Energy. "
Residents Charged Up Against Power Project
San Diego Union-Trib, February 8, 2006
"San Diego Gas & Electric Co.’s proposed 120-mile, $1.4 billion, 500-kilovolt power line is opposed by numerous environmental organizations and by several residents groups outraged about the prospect of a massive power line, on poles 100 to 150 feet tall, running near their homes. That anger has been underscored at heavily attended meetings that at times sounded like anti-war rallies as questions and accusations were yelled at SDG&E representatives. "
Dispute Over NYRI Power Line Heats Up - Prominent Lobbyist Hired
www.thedailystar.com, June 22, 2006
"ALBANY - The fight over the New York Regional Interconnect power-line project has moved from the grass roots into the halls of government. The developers of the project hired one of Albany's most-influential power brokers while legislation that opponents say could deal a stunning blow to the $1.6 billion proposal begins to gain momentum. Meanwhile, eight counties along the high-voltage power line's potential route have joined forces to block it. "
NYRI Line To Cost More Than Projected
Press & Sun-Bulletin, June 7, 2006
"A budget for the New York Regional Interconnect power line projects the cost to be more than 50 percent higher than project sponsors have been saying at a recent round of public meetings."
Allegheny Energy’s Transmission Expansion Plan Receives PJM Approval
Forbes (Business Wir, June 23, 2006
"Allegheny Energy, Inc. (NYSE:AYE) today announced that PJM Interconnection has approved a major expansion of the company’s 500-kilovolt (kV) electric transmission system. The PJM board has approved a five-year program designed to maintain the reliability of the transmission grid in the Mid-Atlantic region. The plan, which was proposed in a regional planning study released by PJM in May, includes construction of approximately 210 miles of 500-kV transmission lines within Allegheny’s service territory. "
[Madison County, New York] Votes $50,000 For Power Line Battle
Oneida Daily Dispatc, June 28, 2006
"WAMPSVILLE - The Madison County [NY] Board of Supervisors held a special meeting Tuesday morning to authorize a $50,000 contribution to help fight a proposed power line running from Utica to Orange County [NY]. Officials at New York Regional Interconnect, the company that has proposed the $1.5 billion project, say the power line is necessary to bring energy from Upstate areas with surplus power to communities in the southern portion of the state that currently cannot get enough energy to meet their needs."
Power Line Bill Aimed At Stafford
Fredericksburg Free , February 2, 2007
"The state Senate will vote on a bill this month that could save the property values of Stafford residents living in the path of a proposed new power line. But the bill also could cost those residents the money it would take to bury and maintain the line. Del. Mark Cole’s bill would give Stafford County the power to negotiate with Dominion Power to have Dominion bury the line, proposed to go from Aquia Harbour to Mountain View Road. "
Dominion Power Donated $3.75 Million To Virginia Politicians
Loudoun Times Mirror, February 2, 2007
"For many years, Dominion Virginia Power has positioned itself to exert influence in the Virginia General Assembly. The utility has donated more than $3.75 million to Virginia’s politicians since 1996, according to the Virginia Public Access Project (www.vpap.org ). According to the VPAP, Dominion has secured the services of no fewer than 17 registered lobbyists this year, in order to keep bills that are against the utility’s interests from surviving the legislative process. "
Kaine Dubious On Death Penalty Expansion
Washington Post, February 2, 2007
"...Kaine made the comments during a wide-ranging two-hour interview Wednesday evening in which he also discussed two contentious Northern Virginia issues: his decision to build an aboveground Metrorail line through Tysons Corner, and Dominion Virginia Power’s plan to erect a high-voltage transmission line across scenic land in the outer suburbs...Kaine said Dominion should "absolutely" find a place to build the $1.4 billion line other than the proposed route, which has provoked anger from many residents and environmental groups. "
Va. Transportation Deal Withers In Senate Panel
Washington Post, February 2, 2007
"A fragile Republican-brokered deal on transportation funding collapsed Thursday after a Virginia Senate committee endorsed a competing proposal with dim prospects in the House of Delegates, increasing the chances that the session’s key issue could go unaddressed in an election year. "
PATH Hearing Includes SCC Staff Testimony
Winchester Star, December 1, 2009
"The next step in the proposed 280-mile PATH power line will take place this week...SCC staff members are scheduled to provide testimony today for the case’s upcoming evidentiary hearings, scheduled to begin Jan. 19 in Richmond. Skirpan, however, is expected to grant a one-week extension, allowing SCC staff to file testimony by Dec. 8, said Rob Marmet, transmission project legal analyst for the Warrenton-based Piedmont Environmental Council, one of the groups that has opposed the power line. "
The Winchester Star is available online on a subscription-only basis. It may also be necessary to search for the article you want once you access the site.
Power Line Foes Turn Out In Full Force
Washington Post, November 22, 2009
"Leaders of local opposition to a proposed power line aggressively challenged the justifications for the project during the last of five scheduled public input sessions Thursday night in Loudoun County. About 250 people packed the floor of a basketball court at the Lovettsville Community Center during the State Corporation Commission’s 5 1/2 -hour session. "
Va. Agency Declines To Throw Out Application For 3-state Power Line
Washington Post, November 25, 2009
"Virginia officials cleared the way Tuesday for continuing consideration of an application to build a 275-mile high-voltage power line. Alexander F. Skirpan Jr., a hearing examiner with Virginia’s State Corporation Commission in Richmond, denied a recommendation from the commission staff to dismiss the application. But he also rejected a request by those seeking to build the line to delay proceedings. "
Quotes PECs Rob Marmet
PSC Adopts Extended Timeline For PATH
State Journal (WV), November 24, 2009
"The Public Service Commission of West Virginia Nov. 24 adopted an extended procedural schedule for the 765-kilovolt Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline. In so doing, the PSC denied a staff motion to dismiss the application. The new procedural schedule pushes the evidentiary hearing in the case back from February to October 2010 and the deadline for a commission decision back from June 2010 to February 2011. "
W.Va. PSC Staff Seeks Halt 3-state Power Line
Associated Press, October 30, 2009
"A West Virginia Public Service Commission lawyer moved Wednesday to dismiss an application on a proposed multistate power line saying the project is incomplete and data supporting the venture is outdated. John Auville noted the proposed 765-kilovolt Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline, or PATH, would have a starting point, but no end point since Maryland officials dismissed an application to build the line through 20 miles of that state."
Opponents Decline Meeting With PATH
Leesburg Today, November 4, 2009
"In a surprise move, property owners in Loudoun and Frederick counties yesterday issued a statement declining to meet with PATH representatives Nov. 16, as suggested by the power company. The property owners are part of the NoToPATH group, composed mostly of residents in the Neersville and Lovettsville areas, through whose properties the 765kV, 244-mile overhead transmission line from West Virginia to Maryland would pass, if approved by the public service commissions in all three states. "
PATH Meeting Highlights Gap Between Residents, Allegheny Power
Frederick News-Post, November 4, 2009
"The proposed Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline generated more questions than answers for many of the 45 residents attending a meeting. Friends of Frederick County invited residents Monday to hear Russell Frisby Jr., a representative of the PATH Education and Awareness Team, present plans for the high-voltage interstate electric transmission line through Kemptown. "
Pepco, Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative Win Stimulus Money
Washington Business Journal, October 27, 2009
"Pepco and the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative have won a combined $154 million in federal stimulus funding to smarten their power grids and slash power consumption. Pepco won the bulk of that pot with $104.8 million to install 570,000 “smart meters,” devices at the household that delineate exactly when and how power is being used, in its suburban Maryland territories. That grant will also allow Pepco to automate parts of its distribution channels to better pinpoint trouble spots or outages and reduce peak load periods. "
Pepco, Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative Win Stimulus Money
Washington Business Journal, October 27, 2009
"Pepco and the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative have won a combined $154 million in federal stimulus funding to smarten their power grids and slash power consumption. Pepco won the bulk of that pot with $104.8 million to install 570,000 “smart meters,” devices at the household that delineate exactly when and how power is being used, in its suburban Maryland territories. That grant will also allow Pepco to automate parts of its distribution channels to better pinpoint trouble spots or outages and reduce peak load periods. "
Landowners Complain About Power Line Construction
The Charleston Gazette, October 20, 2009
"A group of Tucker County property owners is accusing Allegheny Energy of clearing too much land for a pair of multistate power lines. The landowners say they filed a complaint about the Greensburg, Pa.-based utility’s activities with the state Public Service Commission on Monday."
Work Starts On Virginia Piece Of Multistate Line
The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 20, 2009
"Dominion Resources says work has started in Virginia on a 65-mile stretch of a high-voltage line that would run 265 miles from Pennsylvania to Loudoun County. Dominion spokeswoman Le-Ha Anderson says work is ongoing in the Culpeper and Fauquier areas. The $243 million portion of the line from Meadow Brook to Loudoun is expected to go into service by June 2011."
A Little Heresy On Transmission
Grist.com, October 19, 2009
"The last thing renewable energy needs right now are new transmission lines. This statement is heresy in the green community, but there’s a danger that the increasing focus of green energy advocates on a new nationwide transmission superhighway may undermine the pursuit of near-term renewable energy goals."
The Federal ‘Green’ Superhighway: 3,000 Miles To Nowhere?
MasterResource.org, September 22, 2009
"Investment in interstate transmission has not kept pace with the need for more electricity capacity, despite wakeup calls such as the widespread Northeast and Midwest blackout in August 2003. Transmission siting authority has become the mantra for those who claim that the “not in my backyard” (NIMBY) syndrome is driving U.S. energy policy. "
Maryland Commission Rules Transmission Line Application Improperly Filed
Reuters, September 10, 2009
"Allegheny Energy (NYSE: AYE) and American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) today announced that the Maryland Public Service Commission ruled that, procedurally, The Potomac Edison Company, an Allegheny Energy subsidiary, may not seek authorization to construct the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) on behalf of its affiliate, PATH Allegheny Transmission Company, LLC."
PATH Hits Obstacle In Maryland
Washington Post, September 15, 2009
"The proposed Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline may have hit a roadblock. Opponents of the controversial PATH project say last week’s decision by the Maryland Public Service Commission may stop the power line planned for a corridor that would include Frederick and Clarke counties. "
Opponents Of A Multi-state Power Line Plead Case
WAMU, September 16, 2009
" Opponents of a multi-state power line that would run through northern Virginia are pleading their case to the state Supreme Court today. The power line would run from Washington County, Pennsylvania, to Loudoun County, Virginia, crossing northern West Virginia. The Virginia State’s Corporation Commission okay’ed the project. However, The Piedmont Environmental Council, a citizens group called Power-Line Landowners Alliance and the counties of Fauquier, Prince William and Culpeper are challenging its approval."
Scroll down for story.
Legislators Discuss When To Levy Path Tax
West Va. Public Broadcasting, September 16, 2009
"State lawmakers are trying to figure out how high-voltage power lines should be taxed. In May, Allegheny Energy and American Electric Power submitted their application for the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline, or PATH for short. "
Supervisors Spend Time Behind Closed Doors
Leesburg Today, September 17, 2009
"The Board of Supervisors spent the majority of its meeting Tuesday in closed session, discussing a variety of topics but taking no formal action in public. Supervisors met for around five hours behind closed doors. connection with two business expansions, the county’s legal options in opposing the PATH transmission line planned to cross northern Loudoun, the county’s legal options in relation to the Purcellville Urban Growth Management Plan and the Town o"
Winchester Star, August 7, 2009
"WINCHESTER — For those who oppose plans for the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline, the goal will be to prevent history from repeating itself. More than 100 watched testimony Monday during the first day of hearings by the Virginia State Corporation Commission at Handley High School. "
Leesburg Today, August 7, 2009
"Residents opposed to the construction of the PATH transmission line across northern Loudoun put their complaints on the record this week as the State Corporation Commission held local public hearings in Winchester and Purcellville. The 765-kV power line would run between St. Alans, WV, and Kemptown, MD. During Wednesday’s hearing at Loudoun Valley High School residents raised concerns about the project’s impact on their property and on their families’ health, while other critics challenged the need for the new lines altogether. "
Environmentalists File In Va. To Block Power Line
Daily Press, July 27, 2009
"RICHMOND, Va. - The Sierra Club has joined other environmental groups in intervening in Virginia proceedings to try to block a high-voltage multistate transmission line. The Sierra Club, represented by Earthjustice, said it filed papers Monday with Virginia’s State Corporation Commission. SCC spokesman Ken Schrad says Monday was the deadline for intervening in the $1.9 billion line proposed by Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Energy Co. and Ohio’s American Electric Power Co. The Piedmont Environmental Council and the National Wildlife Federation also have filed notices of participation. "
Residents Along Route Contacted About PATH
Winchester Star, July 20, 2009
"Allegheny Energy officials sent letters Thursday to residents along the proposed route of the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH). The move by the Greensburg, Pa.-based company is required by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, which directed Allegheny Energy to contact all property owners along the proposed route by today. "
Power Line Upgrade Sparks Questions
Washington Post, July 12, 2009
"Michael Donohoe and his wife slowly made their way around several booths at an open house to learn more about plans to upgrade a high-voltage transmission line in their community. Dominion Virginia Power, which hosted the open house Tuesday at the Dulles South Multipurpose Center in South Riding, plans to remove a 115,000-volt line and replace it with a double-circuit 230,000-volt line. Donohoe, of Middleburg, said he is concerned about the new power line’s potential effect on the rural landscape and wildlife and about the height of its towers, which would nearly double to an average of 110 feet. "
Quotes PECs Bri West
Groups Sue To Shift Bush Admin’s Western Power Line Routes
Solve Climate, July 10, 2009
"On January 18, the second to last day it was in power, the Bush administration finalized 6,000 miles of energy corridors for new transmission lines in 11 Western states. Ideally, those lines would carry renewable energy to the cities. Instead, the corridors were drawn to promote fossil fuel use, 11 environmental groups and Colorado’s San Miguel County allege in a lawsuit filed this week against the Departments of Interior, Energy and Agriculture, the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service. "
Quotes PEC President Chris Miller
Dominion To Begin Clearing For New Power Line In September
Rappahannock News, July 9, 2009
"Dominion Virginia Power officials announced at Monday’s Board of Supervisors’ meeting that they will begin in September to clear the right-of-way for the new power line through the county. "
Kaine Holds Power Meeting With Local Leaders
Leesburg Today, July 2, 2009
"After meeting Wednesday with local elected representatives from several counties, including those from Loudoun, to discuss their concerns about a proposed interstate power line and the commonwealth’s regulatory review procedures, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D) said he would draw up a list of some of the concerns expressed by the those present to see what actions might be taken, both in the short and the long term. "
Groups Seek To Push Safety Concerns Into Power Line Battle
Leesburg Today, July 6, 2009
"Leaders of Loudoun citizen groups opposing plans to construct new high voltage transmission lines in the county want the Board of Supervisors to conduct public hearings examining the incidence childhood leukemia in homes near such lines. Under the request, the board’s Committee on Energy and Environment, chaired by Supervisor Andrea McGimsey, would invite scientists who have studied the health effects of long-term exposure to electro-magnetic fields to publicly present their findings. "
Frederick Leaders Tell Wolf And Kaine Of PATH Worries
Winchester Star, July 7, 2009
"Frederick County officials have presented their concerns regarding the Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) proposed by Greensburg, Pa.-based Allegheny Energy. County Administrator John R. Riley Jr. and Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard C. Shickle Sr. joined officials from Clarke and Loudoun counties in a meeting last week with Rep. Frank R. Wolf, R-10th, and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine to discuss PATH’s impacts on the region. "
Martinsburg Journal, July 8, 2009
" CHARLES TOWN - A recent project in other portions of the state has prompted some to wonder if financial benefits might be on the way as a result of Allegheny Energy’s proposed power line. The company previously requested permission from the West Virginia Public Service Commission to construct a power line called the Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line, or TrAIL. "
Wolf Rips Into SCC On PATH Proposal
Winchester Star, June 29, 2009
"Rep. Frank R. Wolf is continuing his efforts to sway the Virginia State Corporation Commission on the proposed Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline. The 10th District Republican, who is hoping to keep the line out of Frederick and Clarke counties, recently sent letters to each of the three commissioners about PATH. "
Washington Post, July 1, 2009
"Dominion Virginia Power has announced plans to upgrade a transmission line that stretches for 9.3 miles through parts of Loudoun, Fauquier and Prince William counties. Dominion officials say the project, which requires approval from the State Corporation Commission, is needed by 2012 to avoid power outages in Loudoun. "
Dominion Pushes For Bigger Power Line
Insideva.com, June 25, 2009
"Dominion Virginia Power plans to replace an existing transmission line that runs from Loudoun to Middle-burg, and through part of Prince William County, with a new, higher-voltage line. The power company will hold a public information meeting about its plans July 7. Dominion plans to remove the existing 56-year-old 115-kilovolt line and replace it with a new 230-kilovolt line, according to information Dominion sent to area residents."
PATH Meets The Public In August
Loudoun Times Mirror, June 16, 2009
"The State Corporation Commission has set Aug. 5 and 6 for public hearings in Purcellville on the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline, the proposed 765-kilovolt overhead transmission line that will cross Frederick, Clarke and Loudoun counties. "
House Testimony Undermines Wisdom Of Massive Electric Grid Expansion
Solve Climate, June 17, 2009
"A battle is brewing in Congress over a climate and energy issue that is pitting the U.S. Senate and states west of the Mississippi against the U.S. House and states east of the mighty river. It’s a fight over expansion of the electric grid – the building of a new "transmission superhighway" – with boosters claiming you can’t have a clean energy future without it, and more cautious skeptics saying it could be a huge waste of money that would hurt both the economy and the climate. "
Quotes PEC President Chris Millers testimony before Congress
Leesburg, Dominion Agree On Easements
Washington Post, June 7, 2009
"Dominion Virginia Power has agreed to pay Leesburg $2 million in exchange for easements that the utility needs to build a transmission line. The settlement follows a year of negotiations between town and Dominion officials. The Leesburg Town Council has long opposed the planned 12-mile, 230,000-volt line from Leesburg to Hamilton, saying that the steel poles carrying the line will be an eyesore and will lower property values. "
Residents Await SCC Hearing Schedule On PATH Application
Leesburg Today, May 29, 2009
"It is too early to predict when public hearings will be held on American Electric Power and Allegheny Power’s PATH 765kv line application that was filed in Richmond Friday, State Corporation Commission spokesman Andy Farmer said Wednesday. The companies filed applications in Virginia and Maryland for a transmission line that will bring power from West Virginia, passing through Frederick County and northern Loudoun County, to Maryland. "
Controversy Over Power Transmission Lines
Lancaster Farming, May 22, 2009
"On May 4 the governors of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, and Virginia, sent an open letter to the leaders of congress encouraging them to support federal policy promoting wind and other renewable energy sources. “At the same time,” stated the letter. “We must express our concern about the significant risks posed by recent proposals regarding transmission that we believe could jeopardize our states’ efforts to develop wind resources and inject federal jurisdiction into an area traditionally handled by states and regions.” "
Quotes PEC and landowners in the path of the TrAIL line.
Winchester Star, May 28, 2009
" Rep. Frank R. Wolf says the Virginia State Corporation Commission has done a poor job in representing the interests of people in Frederick, Clarke, and Loudoun counties who may be affected by a proposed power line. The 10th District Republican, visiting Winchester this week, said the proposed $1.8 billion Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) will probably affect all three localities — and not necessarily in a good way. "
Washington Post, May 3, 2009
"Discussion about transmission line planning and green power is popular in Washington these days. A vast network of new high-voltage transmission lines is needed, we’re told, to bring renewable energy to market. But does that mean that any new transmission line is good for the environment and the new "green economy"? ...[A] quick review of the facts reveals that the PATH line has nothing to do with clean energy and everything to do with profit-seeking coal companies. "
Power Line Construction Soon Begins In Fauquier
Fauquier Times-Democ, May 6, 2009
"In the next week or so, work crews will start building Fauquier’s portion of a contentious 500,000-volt transmission line. The line, which should be operating by June 2011, will serve Northern Virginia homes and businesses. Dominion Virginia Power’s 65-mile line will link substations in Frederick County and Loudoun counties."
Building Power Lines Creates A Web Of Problems
NPR , April 28, 2009
"To create a new energy economy using much more solar and wind power, the Obama administration needs to build thousands of miles of new transmission lines. Despite the promise that these are needed to get more green energy from solar and wind generators, the proposal faces a host of obstacles. Chris Miller, president of the Piedmont Environmental Council and an advocate of renewable energy, points out that new transmission lines may not be dedicated just to "green" electrons. "
NPR is doing a week long series about the state of the electric power grid in the United States. PEC President Chris Miller is one of the experts quoted in the piece. Industry insiders are usually the sole source of information on this subject, so we are gratified to see that NPR has taken the initiative to look beyond those sources. A vigorous debate on this important issue is long overdue.
Power Hungry: Reinventing The U.S. Electric Grid
NPR, April 30, 2009
"The electricity grid is a marvel of reliability, but, in many ways, a throwback to century-old technology. And for a future with more computers and gizmos of every kind — and more power from renewable sources — the grid is going to need some major work."
This link takes you to the full NPR series and interactive map.
Federal Court Denies FERC Appeal Bid
Leesburg Today, April 22, 2009
"The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond yesterday denied the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s petition for a new hearing on a Virginia court’s ruling that limited its authority regarding the siting of transmission lines. FERC appealed the case brought by the Piedmont Environmental Council, in part because PEC claimed FERC had overstepped its authority in claiming it had the authority to determine transmission line location in cases where state regulators deny applications by power companies."
Loudoun Rejects Power Line Proposal
Washington Examiner, April 14, 2009
"Loudoun County supervisors are fighting a power company’s plan to build a new transmission line that would stretch from Maryland to West Virginia. Allegheny Power has asked the county to give up land the company says is needed for the “PATH” line. But the Board of Supervisors is demanding that the company win approval from the Virginia State Corporation Commission, which regulates utilities, as well as finish an environmental impact statement before it will consider giving up the land."
’Green’ Lines For ’Clean’ Coal?
Grist.com, March 26, 2009
"In recent weeks, there has been a flurry of activity surrounding new transmission lines. With hearings and legislation in Washington, D.C. and multi-state transmission corridor projects on the drawing board, there are a lot of questions. Are they needed? Can low-carbon generation be met otherwise? Is the project just an excuse to expand the reach of coal-fired power plants rather than supporting a clean energy project?"
Frederick Seeks Aid In PATH Resistance
Winchester Star, April 1, 2009
"Gov. Timothy M. Kaine plans to meet with Frederick County officials regarding the $1.8 billion Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline that will travel across the northern end of the county. “The governor will meet with them, but the details of where and when have yet to be worked out,” Kaine’s press secretary Gordon Hickey said in an e-mail Tuesday. "
Salon, March 23, 2009
"With a boost of billions in the economic stimulus plan, the White House plans to double the nation’s supply of renewable energy in the next three years. There’s big talk in Congress of creating a national renewable-energy standard, which would mandate that utilities get a chunk of their power from green sources like solar, wind and geothermal. So long dirty energy, hello green future. Yet as renewable energy finally takes its place as a national priority, a tripwire lurks in the rosy scenario: transmission lines. "
Quotes PECs Bri West.
Transmission Superhighway On Track To Carry Cheap, Dirty Coal Power To Northeast
Solveclimate.com, March 24, 2009
"Thanks to federal funding and pending legislation, momentum is building behind a national transmission superhighway meant to propel America to a repowered clean energy future, but the end result in the Northeast may be just the opposite..."There’s enormous financial incentive for the oldest and dirtiest coal plants to access markets through transmission,” said Chris Miller, President of the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC). “Unless we have a change in transmission rules, all this work on the national grid will mostly result in just more coal-fired power."
Quotes PEC President Chris Miller and refers to PEC maps and resources.
Sierra Club Petitions WV Supreme Court To Stop Powerline
West Va. Public Broa, March 13, 2009
"The West Virginia Sierra Club filed a petition Friday asking the state Supreme Court to rescind Allegheny Energy’s certificate of convenience and necessity to build a high voltage power line from southern Pennsylvania to northern Virginia. Much of the powerline would run through West Virginia’s north central and Eastern Panhandle regions."
Transmission - Don’t Play With Electricity!
Natural Resources De, March 17, 2009
"We all love renewables, but we want clean energy, not renewables blended down with climate-changing conventional coal. In the East, as indicated by the Piedmont Environmental Council, energy efficiency could eliminate the need for new lines by reducing demand for coal power and opening up capacity for renewables. And PEC makes a good case that transmission proponents are greenwashing projects that in 2005-06 were needed for coal by saying today the lines are needed for renewables. "
New York Times, March 6, 2009
"PRESIDENT Obama has laid out an ambitious agenda for dealing with our energy needs and climate change...But as Congress translates this grand plan into legislation, lawmakers should resist calls to add an extensive and costly new transmission system that would carry electricity from remote areas like Texas, the Great Plains and Eastern Canada to places with high energy demands like Boston, Chicago and New York. "
Court Stands Up For States’ Rights In Planning Power Lines
Loudoun Times Mirror, March 4, 2009
"Its impact on Dominion Virginia Power’s plan to run a 500-kilovolt power line across the Piedmont is nonexistent, but that hasn’t stopped the Piedmont Environment Council and its supporters from celebrating a recent decision by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. If the Warrenton-based environmental advocacy can’t stop Dominion this time -- and it is still trying, with an appeal before the Virginia Supreme Court -- this ruling will make it better armed for the next fight."
Court Stands Up For States’ Rights In Planning Power Lines
Loudoun Times Mirror, March 4, 2009
"Its impact on Dominion Virginia Power’s plan to run a 500-kilovolt power line across the Piedmont is nonexistent, but that hasn’t stopped the Piedmont Environment Council and its supporters from celebrating a recent decision by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. If the Warrenton-based environmental advocacy can’t stop Dominion this time -- and it is still trying, with an appeal before the Virginia Supreme Court -- this ruling will make it better armed for the next fight."
Frederick Officials Invite Kaine To Join Them For PATH Discussion
Winchester Star, March 5, 2009
" The Frederick County Board of Supervisors wants a meeting with Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine to discuss the proposed Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline. PATH, a $1.8 billion project proposed by Greensburg, Pa.-based Allegheny Energy and Columbus, Ohio-based American Electric Power, is designed to bring electricity from the Amos electrical substation near St. Albans, W.Va., through Frederick County and on to another substation near Frederick, Md. "
PEC Asks State To Revisit Power Line
Culpeper Star-Expone, February 13, 2009
"The Piedmont Environmental Council is asking the Virginia Supreme Court to reconsider the State Corporation Commission’s approval of a proposed high-voltage power line project. In a motion filed this week, the Warrenton-based environmental and conservation group asks the court to remand the case to the SCC for further proceedings."
Dozens Meet In Opposition To Power Line
Northern Virginia Da, February 13, 2009
"Dozens of residents gathered at James Wood High School on Thursday night in opposition to a proposed high-voltage power transmission line through Frederick County. At issue is the Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline, or PATH, which would run from St. Albans, W.Va., to Kemptown, Md., via the northern part of the county. The joint venture between Allegheny Power and American Electric Power is intended to stabilize the electric grid managed by Norristown, Pa.,-based PJM Interconnection. Electricity transmitted over the line will end up in the Washington area and points northeast."
PSC Takes Another Look At High Volt Power Line Plan
The State Journal, February 17, 2009
"A proposed high volt power line will get approval segment by segment. That’s the decision from the Public Service Commission of West Virginia. The PSC was originally going to require the Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Company to submit to a single hearing on whether pre-construction conditions are met. TrAIL had requested a series of hearings on each segment of the line. "
Power Line Appeal Relies On Novel Approach
Fauquier Times-Democ, February 18, 2009
"New data reflecting a drop in electricity demand prove that Dominion Virginia Power no longer needs a planned transmission line through the Piedmont, according to a local environmental group. That’s why the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) believes the Virginia Supreme Court should return the matter to the State Corporation Commission (SCC) for more study. "
Dominion Pulls Permit Application
Fredericksburg Free , February 19, 2009
"Dominion Virginia Power has pulled its application for a use permit to temporarily store poles on a six-acre lot along State Route 621 in northern Culpeper County. County Planner John Egerston said yesterday afternoon that the electric company had called on Tuesday and indicated that it would be seeking another location. "
Dominion Pulls Permit Application
Fredericksburg Free , February 19, 2009
"Dominion Virginia Power has pulled its application for a use permit to temporarily store poles on a six-acre lot along State Route 621 in northern Culpeper County."
Groups Plan Meeting To Formalize PATH Opposition
Winchester Star, February 10, 2009
"Opposition to the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) may become even more formalized Thursday evening. Preserve Frederick, a grass-roots citizens group formed to voice opposition to potentially harmful projects, will join the Piedmont Environmental Council to host a Frederick County Citizens Against PATH meeting at James Wood High School. "
Delegation Sends Letter To Allegheny Over PATH Project
Frederick News-Post, February 12, 2009
"Frederick County’s delegation to Annapolis has sent a letter to Allegheny Energy, asking it to consider putting Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline project utility lines underground."
Leesburg Council Joins PATH Opposition
Leesburg Today, February 5, 2009
"Acting on a request by Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA-10), Leesburg Town Council members expressed their opposition to the PATH transmission line in a letter to Gov. Tim Kaine (D). The project has spurred strong objections from many western Loudoun residents to the high towers and route proposed for the project to bring power from West Virginia to Maryland, ending at a new substation near Frederick, MD, and passing through the top section of Loudoun County. It is a joint project of Allegheny Energy and American Electrical Power."
Proposed High-voltage Line Sparks Worries In Lovettsville
Washington Post, January 25, 2009
"Plans to run a high-voltage transmission line through a 10.5-mile stretch of northwestern Loudoun County have alarmed many Lovettsville residents, who say the towers carrying the line would mar the area’s rural charm."
Lovettsville Area To Play Host To New Power Line?
Purcellville Gazette, January 15, 2009
"While more attention has been paid to the proposed power lines by Dominion Power along the WO&D trail, Allegheny Power has been moving forward with plans that may affect the residents of Lovettsville."
In fact, the proposed PATH line is a 765 kV, not a 500 kV line, and the proposed towers would be closer to 200 feet than to 100 feet.
Residents Rally To Fight Power Line Plan
Leesburg Today, January 8, 2009
"A crowd of more than 200 people packed into the Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church near Lovettsville Wednesday night to find ways to battle plans for a new electric transmission line to cross northern Loudoun. Allegheny Energy and American Electrical Power’s PATH project would bring power from West Virginia to near Frederick, MD. The meeting was initiated by residents Bart Hodgson and Keith Lawson. Hodgson moderated the meeting, which included remarks by Piedmont Environmental Council transmission line experts Rob Marmet and Brianna West, Supervisor Sally R. Kurtz (D-Catoctin) and a representative of Rep. Frank Wolf’s (R-VA-10) office, as well as questions from the audience."
