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PEC, neighboring counties appeal power line ruling
The way is open for Dominion Virginia Power to proceed with the proposed Trans-Allegheny transmission line, a part of which will run through Rappahannock County.Dominion will proceed with construction even though the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC), Fauquier, Culpeper and Prince William counties and three opposition groups plan to appeal the State Corporation Commission's (SCC) decision to the Virginia Supreme Court.
The PEC will hold a public meeting for Rappahannock residents to outline the appeal process on Monday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Rappahannock County Library.
Although the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors had set aside $50,000 to help fight the line, County Administrator John McCarthy has said that money has been spent and the BOS has declined to approve any additional funds.
Last Thursday, the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission voted 4-1 to approve the section of the line running through its state eliminating the last administrative hurdle for the transmission line, adding another nail in the coffin for opponents of Dominion's plans to build a high-voltage transmission line through a section of Rappahannock.
Virginia’s SCC authorized the portion of the line in the commonwealth contingent upon approval by West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
"This is good news," Dominion spokesperson Le-Ha Anderson said of the Pennsylvania decision, which she believes further proves the need for the transmission line. "Without this [line], we would be facing electricity shortfalls [in Northern Virginia] in 2011."
In Virginia, the Warrenton-based PEC has proven the project’s most dogged opponent.
"It’s another case of the regulated controlling the regulators," PEC spokesman Bob Lazaro said of the Pennsylvania ruling. "Their two-judge [advisory] panel said 'No,' their staff said, 'No,' their experts said 'No.' It’s obviously a political decision."
PEC claims the line is unnecessary, arguing Northern Virginia's electricity needs can be met through conservation, new technology and upgrades to existing infrastructure.
West Virginia and Pennsylvania soon will notify the SCC of their decisions in writing, after which the commission will issue Dominion a construction permit for the 500,000-volt line, Anderson said.
Within 30 days, Dominion expects to receive an "official order" from the SCC to begin construction of its 65-mile portion of the line, she said.
Dominion’s segment will link a substation at Winchester and substation near Arcola in Loudoun County.
Besides Rappahannock, the line will cut through Frederick, Warren, Loudoun, Fauquier, Culpeper and Prince William counties. It will track an existing transmission line corridor. Dominion will need to acquire additional right of way to build the line.
Work will begin in Prince William County by year’s end, Anderson said.
Dominion will start clearing existing right-of-way and pouring foundations for steel towers to support the transmission line, she said.
In places along the 65-mile route, the lattice towers could stand up to 150 feet high.
When questioned about Dominion’s judgment to proceed with the project before the court decides the matter, Anderson said, "It would be more prudent to begin construction because we know it will take 18 to 24 months" to complete.
The line must be operating by summer 2011 to "avoid shortage of electricity," she said.
"I can’t speculate" about how the supreme court may act on the case, Anderson said.
But if it overrules the SCC, Dominion has no alternative means to satisfy Northern Virginia’s energy demands, she said.
"We have not had a Plan B, and we’ve said that during the SCC [review] process," Anderson said. "This [the line] is the right thing at the right time to ensure we don’t have blackouts come 2011."
PEC plans to vigorously challenge the SCC decision before the supreme court, Lazaro said.
Of PEC’s prospects before the court, he said: "Presented with the facts, we believe we’re going to win. And the Dominion folks are going to tell you the opposite."
Dominion’s decision to begin the line’s construction before the supreme court’s ruling could backfire, Lazaro suggested.
"They proceed at their own risk," he said. "Obviously, if the supreme court says [Dominion] made a mistake, they’ll have to take it all down. They’re spending their own money at their own risk."
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