| It is one of two mega-power transmission projects slated to cross West Virginia, and a large number of residents of northern counties showed up to oppose Allegheny Energy's project.
A second project is slated across central West Virginia from the John Amos Plant to Maryland, and is likely to go through Calhoun.
Gov. Joe Manchin has expressed support for transmission upgrades in West Virginia.
The PSC hosted public comment hearings in Morgantown, Grafton, Canaan Valley and Moorefield in October.
The locations lie near the path of the proposed 500-kilovolt line, which would run south from Pennsylvania through Monongalia county, crossing possibly into Marion and Taylor counties and then heading east through Preston, Tucker, Grant, Hardy and Hampshire counties - about 114 miles total in West Virginia.
Property owners who expect to be affected directly by the line were the main opponents.
Steve Giessler said he and his wife bought 26 acres near the Monongahela River 10 years ago and set out to have a family: children now 8, 6, 4 and 2. The line is slated to cross their property.
Artist Kenneth Kreider and his wife brought an original oil painting of their green and rolling view, to which Kreider attached cutouts of towers and power lines as he spoke.
Residents whose views are affected will lose property value, Kreider and others said, but will not be compensated.
"These towers are going to take away what my kids stand to gain by us buying this property," Kreider said. "That's our only investment in this world."
Sen. Michael A. Oliverio, D-Monongalia, said, "In my 15 years as a member of the state Legislature, this is an issue that I have probably received as many letters, phone calls and e-mails as any issue."
A Morgantown resident suggested that coming greenhouse gas regulation could reduce the demand for coal-fired power.
"If in fact the cost of coal-fired electricity from Allegheny's plants increases, the need for this transmission line goes down precipitously," said West Virginia University faculty member James Kotcon.
"The Public Service Commission needs to investigate whether this in fact will create a huge stranded cost for this transmission line," he said, one that would be born by ratepayers.
Sen. Jon Blair Hunter, D-Monongalia, attended to support an alternative proposal, the upgrading of existing corridors.
Reconductoring could minimize the need for new right of ways.
A Manchin administration spokesman said the governor recognizes the problems associated with the power line, but also that the state can benefit from it.
Press secretary Matt Turner said
"The governor believes there are benefits for our state" in the construction of this line, he wrote.
Beyond increased stability, "There would be more use of West Virginia coal, jobs created in the construction of new transmission lines, as well as the related power company jobs necessarily located in West Virginia."
| 
