Capon Valley Coalition

This letter came in today’s email from Lew McDaniel of Independence, WV, (west of us in Preston County). Lew gave us permission to put his letter on our Web site.

Good day:

I am a member of the Laurel Run Community Watershed Association. We are a small group of folks who watch over Laurel Run, our local stream in a small part of Monongalia, Preston, and Taylor counties. Web site: www.laurelrunwatershed.org.

Two of the proposed Allegheny TrAIL routes would pass through the Laurel Run watershed near Gladesville, WV and across the property of some association members and others in the area.

To date, we have protested via petition signed by area residents sent to Allegheny. We intend to also file protests with the state Public
Service Commission once AEP files . We requested a meeting with Jay Ruberto, the power line siting director and were rebuffed. He is
apparently not interested in discussion until route possibilities are
more defined. He said the siting map at this location should be updated in a week or two and filing with the PSC is anticipated near the end of March:

http://www.aptrailinfo.com/downloads/Allegheny%20Energy%20TrAIL%20500%20kV%20Extended%20Project%20Area.pdf

We also emailed our area legislators, but received minimal response. We do not feel county commissioners in our area will be supportive due to power plants in our area and their support of them. We also contacted the WV Public Service Commission. Among other things, the executive director stated:

“contrary to the assertion found in some letters received by the Commission, this Commission’s initial jurisdiction over such transmission line construction and siting has not been removed by any provision of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.”

There is information that may be useful at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission site regarding power line siting.” The information below suggest FERC has a different view over
jurisdiction. See:

FERC Proposes Rules for Federal Eminent Domain in National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors:
http://energylegalblog.com/archive/2006/06/26/230.aspx

This one contains info that might be useful in protesting directly to
FERC. It appears a docket number is needed:

A Guide to the FERC Electric Transmission Facilities Permit Process:
http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/Files/20070129190117-guide-transmission.pdf

My personal opinion is that this issue has many components:

* Rural America does not want power lines through our property or
scenic areas; urban areas do not want generation facilities in their areas
* The value of our scenery and ecologically sound areas here is as
great as buildings and parking lots in Baltimore/Washington.
* Federal law, with FERC acting as the agency, should not have
eminent domain rights when a private concern (AEP) will profit
* AEP will dot every “i” and cross every “t” in all areas to assure
permitting of the line, thereby making defeating them very
difficult.
* The “build a power line” approach may be the quickest route to
Return on Investment for AEP, but it is very 20th century and does
not take into account supply side management or alternative energy
sources.
* AEP will pay a flat cost for right of way easement, but reap
profits for generations to come with no benefit to the private
landowner.
* The same issues will arise when AEP tries to build a similar line
from the John Amos plant near Winfield on the Kanawha to New
Jersey in 2008. This line is supposed to pass south of Clarksburg.

I will pass along info about our activities as they occur.

Lew McDaniel
Independence, WV

A supporter of the Coalition wrote the following letter to the editor of The Hampshire Review. It appears in the January 17 issue.

The Allegheny Power Company is partnering with the “PJM Interconnection” to condemn land through much of West Virginia and is planning to build a huge power line across Hardy and Hampshire counties. They will seek eminent domain from the Federal government to seize easement right of way from property owners. Except for a Hampshire Review article on December 6th reporting a meeting in Wardensville, I have not seen any mention of this issue. The proposed routes go through Hampshire County, Hardy County, near Wardensville, Capon Springs, and Yellow Spring.

Concerned residents have recently formed a Capon Valley Coalition to try to stop this tremendous assault on our environment, property rights and land values. The Coalition is seeking to contact elected officials in the County, State and Federal governments to gain support in combating this proposal, and needs the support of concerned citizens and organizations. The website is http://caponvalleycoalition.wordpress.com It contains letters and petitions.

The power line is described as a 240 mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line from Pennsylvania through Mount Storm into Virginia. It is referred to as the “Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line (TrAIL)”. The proposed towers will be up to 175 feet high, the height of twelve-to-fifteen story buildings! The right of way will be more than 150 feet. The stated purpose of these lines is to transmit electrical power to meet the demands of Northern Virginia, and they do not benefit West Virginia. This energy may also be designated for cities in the northeast in New Jersey and Delaware.

These power lines would be an environmental disaster. Piedmont Environmental Council has a very strong effort to stop the power lines in Virginia. They are working with many organizations and professional energy experts, and have the support of Senator Warner and Congressmen Wolfe and Davis. The PEC has determined that the power companies have not made the case that this power line is needed, and that Virginia does not need it. More reasonable, less harmful alternatives would be to improve existing lines, and build small power plants where the power demand is, using new, cleaner technology, and not do great harm to our environment.

The West Virginia State legislature is in session until March 10th. Allegheny Power will file their application with the state Public Service Commission as early as April. Those concerned about this issue should learn the facts and notify their representatives of their concerns immediately. More information and contact information is available on the Capon Valley Coalition web page.

William Golemon, Yellow Spring, WV