http://caponvalleycoalition.com/2008/05/26/state-counties-prepare-for-multistate-power-line-wjzcom/ Say NO to TrAIL: Protect Hampshire & Hardy Counties in West Virginia Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:21:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 http://caponvalleycoalition.com/2008/05/26/state-counties-prepare-for-multistate-power-line-wjzcom/#comment-5404 Tue, 27 May 2008 00:28:50 +0000 http://caponvalleycoalition.com/2008/05/26/state-counties-prepare-for-multistate-power-line-wjzcom/#comment-5404 Living in Shepherdstown, WV, just across the river from Antietam Battlefield in Maryland, we have been following both TrAIL and PATH very closely. I myself testified against TrAIL at one of the public hearings, and it has been strongly opposed by many West Virginians and is now before the State's Public Service Commission. The PSC staff initially opposed the application, but has now reversed its position after Allegheny offered additional financial incentives to the State. Of course, this should not logically havre changed the staff's position because it did not change the official record concerning need and environmental impacts. However, financial incentives to the State seem to be a way of doing business here in WV. We await the PSC's decision in August or before. There will be time for Allegheny to appeal to the Bush administration, if they are unsuccessful in the WV PSC. In the meantime, Allegheny is going ahead with PATH, looking at alternative routes. It seems clear that this will only be decided at the State level during the next administration in Washington, be it Obama, Clinton, or McCain. It is hard to say right now which administration would be friendlier to environmental and energy need arguments. Coal interests in WV and Pennsylvania are very, very strong. Parenthetically, I was quite disappointed to see that Maryland's Governor recently turned down new wind sources of energy in Western Maryland. One of our arguments in WV has been that our good neighbors to the East are not doing enough to solve their own energy needs and this seems to be borne out by the Governor's decision. Let us all unite in opposition to TrAIL and PATH and in favor of sensible energy policies!!! Living in Shepherdstown, WV, just across the river from Antietam Battlefield in Maryland, we have been following both TrAIL and PATH very closely. I myself testified against TrAIL at one of the public hearings, and it has been strongly opposed by many West Virginians and is now before the State’s Public Service Commission. The PSC staff initially opposed the application, but has now reversed its position after Allegheny offered additional financial incentives to the State. Of course, this should not logically havre changed the staff’s position because it did not change the official record concerning need and environmental impacts. However, financial incentives to the State seem to be a way of doing business here in WV. We await the PSC’s decision in August or before. There will be time for Allegheny to appeal to the Bush administration, if they are unsuccessful in the WV PSC. In the meantime, Allegheny is going ahead with PATH, looking at alternative routes. It seems clear that this will only be decided at the State level during the next administration in Washington, be it Obama, Clinton, or McCain. It is hard to say right now which administration would be friendlier to environmental and energy need arguments. Coal interests in WV and Pennsylvania are very, very strong. Parenthetically, I was quite disappointed to see that Maryland’s Governor recently turned down new wind sources of energy in Western Maryland. One of our arguments in WV has been that our good neighbors to the East are not doing enough to solve their own energy needs and this seems to be borne out by the Governor’s decision. Let us all unite in opposition to TrAIL and PATH and in favor of sensible energy policies!!!

]]>