| April 17, 2008 - A Report By WV Public Radio
Allegheny Energy efforts to build a high voltage power line through north central West Virginia took a big step forward this week.
The company reached a deal with the state's Public Service Commission staff and the Consumer Advocate Division.
The West Virginia Energy Users Group, which represents several large industries in the region, was also part of the agreement; however, local citizens groups were not.
The three-member West Virginia Public Service Commission still has to approve the 114 mile route that would cross parts northern and eastern West Virginia.
But now Allegheny Energy has the Public Service Commission's Staff and the Consumer Advocate Division on its side.
"I feel good about it or else we wouldn't of signed on about it," said Byron Harris, the consumer advocate for the Public Service Commission.
"Any day that you can save customers over $40M is a pretty good day. And we've made some agreements on a better route if the Commission finds that the line is needed, so as a package, I think it's a pretty good package."
A sticking point for the Consumer Advocate Division had been the route Allegheny Energy wanted to take.
It would have created a new power line corridor through southern Monongalia County and into Preston and Tucker Counties before reaching Mount Storm power plant.
Now, the new route avoids a section of southern Monongalia County where opposition to the line was strong.
"It follows the proposed route through western Monongalia County and then when it gets into Marion County it does follow existing lines and then on the eastern end of it, just south of Rowlesburg, it deviates from the existing line and goes on into the Mount Storm plant in Tucker County," Harris said.
From there the line would basically follow the path of an existing power line into Virginia.
Allegheny Energy has also agreed to delay charging its customers in West Virginia for the cost of the line and to bring about a hundred to hundred and fifty jobs to north central West Virginia.
Alan Staggers is Allegheny Energy's spokesman.
"It will be some combination of new and existing jobs. Some of those jobs currently are located up in Greensburg, Pennsylvania right now.
We have few people that are located in West Virginia, in Fairmont and Morgantown right now. Probably less than ten would be associated with that," Staggers said.
And the faster Allegheny Energy brings those jobs to the state, the sooner it can charge West Virginia customers higher rates.
Other aspects of the deal include industrial customers receive a one-time credit of about $5.7M.
Allegheny Energy also has to buy any homes that are within 400 feet of the power line, if the owner wants sell. The state will receive $5 million dollars over five years for low-income energy and efficiency programs.
But this isn't necessarily the part of the deal that Lou McDaniel is most interested in. He lives in the Laurel Run Communityâin Southern Monongalia Countyâan area where the line would have gone through. He's relieved that's no longer the case.
"If we are going to have to have a power line, if that is the direction the state is going to take, that we are going to support new power lines in the state of West Virginia, I think that what we need to do is make it pretty much public policy that new power lines follow the route of existing power lines. Otherwise, we'll have power lines running all over the place in the future," McDaniel said.
But in Preston County the line deviates from the existing corridor, avoiding western Maryland, where it's more difficult to get approval for power lines.
Consumer Advocate, Byron Harris said "Well, the company, quite frankly wanted to avoid going through Maryland, because they were concerned that there wasn't sufficient time to go through the entire process in Maryland and get a certificate for the line before the need for the line.
"So, that was the problem from the company's standpoint," Harris said.
As part of the new deal, the Consumer Advocate Division agreed not to question whether the line is actually needed. Robert Lazaro lives in Louden County, Virginia and is a member of the Piedmont Environmental Council.
The group is paying close attention to what happens in West Virginia, because the line would eventually run through northern Virginia.
In the West Virginia case, it was clear that Staff said there was no need for this line whatsoever in West Virginia, and now to turn around and do something that the public had no chance to testify to is inappropriate, and the Commissioners have a public record that is before them that says there is no need for this line," Lazaro said.
"So, I just think Allegheny and their partners are desperate at trying to subvert the record and throw a little money in front of people and say well look if you let us do this, this is what we'll give you. That's incredibly short-sighted."
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