The Same Old Story From Dominion: "Trust Us"
Dear Concerned Citizen,
 The transmission line does not make sense from an economic perspective -- looks like when it is time to change the oil in a car, Dominion would simply buy a new car. |
Last week
the transmission line crew went back to Richmond for another day
of duking it out with Dominion, Allegheny and PJM. This hearing
focused on the results of a recent power auction that showed
increased generation and demand response on the east coast. The
Hearing Examiner requested an analysis of how that auction
affects any need for the line.
Dominion ran tests, PJM
ran tests and we ran tests. Needless to say, we couldn't agree
on the results (although Dominion agreed that power flows to New
York contribute significantly to the alleged need for the
line).
Given the Choice of Spending $1 Billion
or $50 Million, Dominion Would Choose $1 Billion
The utility case is simple: they failed a test (a test
they designed) and failing that test is proof that they should
get to build a transmission line. We showed that if Dominion's
test scenarios were ever to happen in real life, the problem
could be remedied with between $2 and $50 million dollars of
power purchases from existing power plants. Dominion argued that
the less expensive solution doesn't meet their planning
criteria. In other words, even though cost-effective, low-impact
solutions are available, Dominion still wants to spend a billion
dollars, affecting communities and land from Pennsylvania to
Virginia.
SCC Examiner Will Make His Recommendation
Soon
We've done everything we can to provide the State
Corporation Commission with expertise and an alternative view.
We believe our case is the strongest, our experts are the most
credible, and that the evidence supports a denial of the line.
But we are up against Dominion. And on a sobering note, the SCC
staff indicated they are content to trust Dominion's planning
criteria as they have always done in the past, and they are
willing to trust PJM's planning criteria. The decision now rests
with the Hearing Examiner and then the Commissioners of the
State Corporation Commission. The Hearing Examiner indicated he
will make his recommendation soon, most likely before
August.
It's been two years and we are
approaching the decision point. I'll let you all know as soon as
we hear anything.
Bri West
Piedmont Environmental Council
bwest@pecva.org
1-540-347-2334
p.s. Dominion is finally starting to push for some of the
conservation & efficiency measures we've been asking for
this whole time. The company will apply soon to the SCC for
permission to invest in Smart Grid technology (advanced meters),
air conditioning cycling, incentives for energy audits and more.
See the Press Release
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