Capon Valley Coalition

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Capon Valley Coalition Steering Committee member Lynn Golemon files this report from her trip to Charleston on March 2:

The West Virginia Environmental Council hosted Environmental Day in the rotunda of the Capitol Building in Charleston on Friday, March 2. I was there to represent the Capon Valley Coalition, and there were approximately 30 other e-groups in attendance. It was truly an honor to be in the presence of so many dedicated folks who are fighting on behalf of our environment, our state and the people who love West Virginia.

A bowl of chocolates brought many folks to our Capon Valley Coalition table – enabling me to get their attention and express our concerns. There was a continually running power point show, including slides showing the beautiful, pristine West Virginia countryside, and the devastating impact of the proposed lines on our local communities. I also had an enlarged copy of the map from the Allegheny Trail site clearly showing the areas and communities affected.

I was able to speak to folks from all over the state, and in less than 4 hours, I gathered more than 50 signed petitions from busy folks passing by. Everyone I spoke with did sign a petition except those who felt they could not because of job conflicts. But even those who could not sign were very supportive. Allegheny has asked for a 12 per cent hike in rates to pay for this line - that was on the morning Charleston news.

“You can beat this power line” Chuck Wyrostok, Vice President/Outreach Coordinator told me at the end of the day. I asked how. “Just keep doing what you are doing,” was the answer.

So I suggest that we all keep doing what we are doing, don’t give up. And please ask others to join us and do what they can. And please donate to our small Coalition – expenses are piling up. And please donate to the West Virginia Environmental Council – they are doing so much for our state.

In Virginia’s Piedmont, Electric Company and Critics Both Draw a Line

In today’s Style Section of The Washington Post, James M. Thresher writes about the battle against the Allegheny Power-Dominion Power-PJM attempt to run high-voltage power lines through Northern Virginia.

You can read the entire article at WashingtonPost.com.

NOTE ON “NEWS”

Our “News” page has collected too much news in the just the last two months. Future news articles will appear in the blog. If you want to read the archives, just click on “Media Coverage” in the Categories box on the right.

Bill Golemon, a member of the Capon Valley Coalition Steering Committee active in reaching out to the news media, wrote the following letter to the editor of The Charleston Gazette on March 3.

We don’t know if the newspaper will publish it, but we will let you know. The Allegheny Power Company has proposed a 240-mile 500-kilovolt extra high voltage transmission line across West Virginia, with towers up to 175 feet high, as tall as 12 to 15 story buildings. They will soon request construction authority from the state Public Service Commission.

If they don’t get what they want, the designation of a National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor in West Virginia will allow them to request from the Federal government the right of eminent domain, to seize right-of-way from landowners, overriding our property rights and the state’s right to regulate power line siting and construction. Many Governors and regulatory commissions in other states strongly oppose this, and bi-partisan congressional legislation is being introduced to restrict it.

West Virginia is entering a new era of growth and economic development, supported by the efforts of leaders like Senator Byrd and Governor Manchin.

I live in Hampshire County, in the beautiful and historic Cacapon River Valley, the oldest settled area in West Virginia. Eastern West Virginia is an area of rapid growth and an expanding economy, and with the completion of the Corridor H highway this growth will accelerate. Tourism is expanding. People are moving into Hampshire and Hardy Counties, buying property, building homes and starting businesses, in order to enjoy the scenic beauty of the area.

This new gigantic power line through our counties will devastate this scenic beauty, destroy property values and damage the economy of our communities.This is a terrible and unacceptable price to pay to increase Allegheny Power’s profits, which have been growing rapidly. Incredibly, part of their justification for the recent rate increase was to help pay the construction costs of the power line.

Apparently, the citizens of West Virginia are supposed to pay for this infringement of our property rights, destruction of property values, and damage to our financial security and our environment. The power line will carry power produced outside of West Virginia, and is not intended for West Virginia. Its purpose is to provide cheaper electricity to Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states.

There are other more practical and far less destructive alternatives to achieve this. It has been stated that West Virginia needs to improve its transmission infrastructure. This may be true, but it is not apparent here, where five power lines are visible within 20 miles.

Apparently it is also considered to be beneficial to the coal industry, but this power is characterized as being excess capacity, already available to be sent to other states. The best alternative solution is to build new power plants where the demand is, creating new markets for clean West Virginia coal.

Another choice would be to put the lines underground, supposedly more costly to do but more reliable and cost efficient in the long run, far less damaging, and less threatening to safety and health.

Citizens of Hampshire and Hardy County have formed the Capon Valley Coalition to oppose this power line. To date we have received well over 600 signed petitions supporting us, and have received the support of the Hampshire County Commission and many other organizations. Although this was not an issue during the current legislative session we feel very strongly that it should have been.

We seek the support and efforts of our elected representatives and state agencies to review this issue. There should be a thorough study of the need for this power line and its perceived benefits, alternative solutions, and above all, the tremendous negative impact it would have on thousands of property owners and the entire state.

Respectfully,
William Golemon
P O Box 127
Yellow Spring WV 26865

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Say NO to Allegheny Power. Say NO to TrAIL.