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    Appeal from Chairman Mitch Story

    February 3rd, 2007

    Dear Capon Valley Coalition friends and neighbors:

    WE NEED YOUR PETITIONS NOW! This week in a conference call with the West Virginia Public Service Commission we learned that sometime next month Allegheny Power plans to file their application for the unnecessary and destructive TrAIL Power Lines. These lines will tower over our homes and farms, our rivers and streams, our valleys and ridges from a height of as much as 170 ft – more than twice as high as the power line towers we have now – some of these towers are as high as 20 story buildings.

    This application from Allegheny is only the beginning of a year-long public process administered by the WVPSC. Even before they file we must let Allegheny know that we are going to fight this application with every tool we can find and we want them to know it as soon as possible.

    We are asking you to make a special push to get petitions signed and back to us by Friday. February 9th. Get petitions signed by all of your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers.

    There is a list of effected counties and towns below where you may know someone who will sign our petition or who needs to learn more about the threat of Allegheny’s proposed TrAIL of Destruction. We hope to send your message loud and clear.

    But this is only our first push. In just a few weeks we will be meeting with our County Commissioners in Romney and visiting our US Senators’ and House Representative’s office so even after this week’s effort we’ll still need as many as you can muster.

    WE NEED YOUR HELP! We formed less than 4 weeks ago and we already have 400 members on our email & USPS mailing lists and nearly that many signed petitions. Dozens more are coming into our P.O. box daily. One neighbor brought in 82! WOW!

    When we talk to you and hear from you as you give us the petitions you’ve gathered we can tell that, in our communities, we’ve struck a real deep vein of “we-don’t-plan-to-take-it-this-time” on this power line.

    We’re always asking for your ideas and you’re sharing great ones with us every day. In speaking with you there are three areas we’ve identified as CVC’s next priorities and where we most need volunteers to assist us. You’ve been asking how to help. Here are some really good things CVC can do – but only with your help:

    1.) Volunteer Coordinator – CVC needs an energetic person who can field emails from Webmaster David and to whom we can direct volunteer’s calls and letters offering their assistance;

    2.) Mailing to all Hampshire & Hardy County residents – We’re hoping to have one or more bulk mail work sessions later this month where many hands can make light work of this task!

    3.) Cross - State Outreach – We are learning of other groups forming to fight TrAIL and existing organizations are reaching out to fight with us. If you would like to head up or be on a committee that would work to keep communication lines open and ideas flowing with these folks and CVC you can make sure we maximize our efforts by helping them and receiving their help. CVC sees this work as perhaps the most important of all! This is how we’re going to beat this unnecessary power line – by mobilizing our fellow West Virginia residents and voters to write, speak out and organize!

    These West Virginia Counties & Towns are In The Path of Allegheny Power’s TrAIL of Destruction. If you know a member of an organization such as a church, a Farm Bureau chapter, a Ruritan or another service club or an energetic college student from …

    Hampshire Augusta, Bloomery, Capon Bridge, Capon Springs, Delray, Green Spring, High View, Junction, Kirby, Lehew, Levels, Points, Purgitsville, Rio, Romney, Shanks, Slanesville, Springfield, Three Churches, Yellow Spring

    Hardy: Baker, Fisher, Lost City, Lost River, Mathias, Milam, Moorefield, Old Fields, Rio, Wardensville


    Grant:
    Arthur, Bayard, Cabins, Dorcas, Gormania, Lahmansville, Landes Station, Maysville, Medley, Mount Storm, Petersburg, Wilson

    Marion: Barrackville, Baxter, Carolina, Colfax, Fairmont, Fairview, Farmington, Four States, Grant Town, Idamay, Jordan, Kingmont, Mannington, Metz, Monongah, Montana Mines, Pleasant Valley, Rachel, Rivesville, Worthington

    Monongalia: Liberty, Blacksville, Booth, Cassville, Core, Dellslow, Everettville, Granville, Little Falls, Maidsville, Morgantown, Osage, Pentress, Pursglove, Star City, Wadestown, Wana, Westover

    Preston: Albright, Amboy, Arthurdale, Aurora, Brandonville, Bretz, Bruceton Mills, Cascade, Corinth, Cuzzart, Eglon, Hazelton, Hopemont, Horse Shoe Run, Independence, Kingwood, Manheim, Masontown, Newburg, Reedsville, Rowlesburg, Terra Alta, Tunnelton

    Taylor Flemington, Grafton, Rosemont, Simpson, Thornton, Wendel

    Tucker Canaan Valley, Davis, Hambleton, Hendricks, Parsons, Red Creek, Saint George, Thomas

    … We really want to hear from the people you know! And, of course, there are many more towns there but these are the names of the Post Offices in these counties – If you know folks in these counties send them our flyers and petitions and send us their names!

    Thank you,

    Mitch Story
    Capon Valley Coalition
    P.O. Box 158
    Yellow Spring, WV 26865
    caponvalleycoalition@yahoo.com


    News from WV Public Service Commission

    February 3rd, 2007

    We made contact with the West Virginia Public Service Commission, where we learned that WVPSC was not aware of any public concern about TrAIL until several weeks ago.

    Allegheny Power plans to submit its application for TrAIL to the WVPSC in March. Apparently the only thing that will NOT be presented is the final route. (Well, now, there’s a surprise. Keep everyone guessing about its location so no one can fight it.)

    Under new Federal rules, power companies must go through the state application process before seeking Federal relief. However, if the state does not act within one year, the power company can bypass the state and go directly to the Federal process, which leaves out state and local governments and the public!

    An immediate question: Does the one-year clock start ticking when Allegheny submits an incomplete application (without final routes) or does it start when all the paperwork gets in, including the final routes.

    Take Action: You need to let the WVPSC know that you oppose this power line. Allegheny has NOT shown that it is necessary. Here is how to do it:

    Jon W. McKinney, Chairman
    201 Brooks Street
    PO Box 812
    Charleston, WV 25323
    Phone: 304-340-0300
    Toll-Free: 1-800-344-5113
    FAX: 304-340-0325


    TrAIL Map with Property Lines (Hampshire Only)

    February 3rd, 2007

    One of the coalition’s great volunteers — have you volunteered yet? — has created a map of Hampshire County that shows the TrAIL routes and property lines.

    Hardy County members, we are sorry, but there is no digital map of property lines for your county.

    The Hampshire County map will give you a better idea of just how many properties and communities will be affected by this power line.

    Remember, the towers will be close to 150 feet high. Even if the towers are not on your property, they can be seen from a long way. Who will buy your property, and how much will they pay, to get a view of power lines?

    And we’re not even talking about potential health hazards.

    Check out the Hampshire County map. (You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is free, to use this map.)

    Hardy County members, we do have a map of Hardy County with some landmarks highlighted so you can locate your property a little easier than on the Allegheny Power maps.

    Tip: With the map open, click on the magnifying glass. Then place your cursor on part of the map you would like to enlarge. Click, and keep clicking (slowly), until you get the resolution you want. After a point, however, the resolution gets worse, not better.