Power Lines: Too Close to Home!

Power Lines ! Literally too close to home

Some area residents, only those adjacent to power lines, received a large first class mailing from the State Corporation Commission outlining two joint applications proposed 500kV Transmission Lines to Dominion Virginia Powers existing substation located in Loudoun County. The document states: "This Virginia segment proposed in these two applications is the continuation of a proposed line that originates in Pennsylvania continues through West Virginia, and terminates in Virginia. As we discuss below, the Commission will weigh and determine any requirement to consider under Virginia law the regional need for the facilities proposed in Virginia.

The first application is for the TrAILCo line that would enter Virginia west of Mountain Falls in Frederick County and extend for about 28 miles to Transmission Line no. 580, in Warren County. It would follow the existing right-of-way, which would be widened in some locations to accommodate the proposed and existing facilities.

The second application is for both Dominion Virginia Power and TrAIL Co to construct and operate a line from the ending point described above, located in Warren County to Dominion Virginia Power's existing Loudoun County Substation. The route proposed would lie within or parallel to existing Dominion Virginia Power right-of-way extending for 65 miles in Warren, Fauquier, Rappahannock, Culpeper, Prince William, and Loudoun Counties. The document states "Dominion Virgina Power would construct, operate, and maintain the entire line. TrAILCo would own an undivided interest of 50 percent in approximately 29.7 miles of the proposed line and would contribute proportionately to the line's costs."

Four electric utilities, Potomac Edison Company, Allegheny Power, Rappahanock Electric Cooperative and Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative are not opposed to the line, even though it will pass through their service territories. Studies will be done on wetland impacts by the Commission and the State Water Control Board as well as by the Department of Environmental Quality on the environmental impact.

According to the application documentation, the companies are required to give notice to landowners whose property is adjacent to the proposed and alternate rights-of-way and are free to provide notice to additional landowners. (As noted early, only one side of a residential street received notice).

Most of the public hearings have taken place in Warrenton on July 26th and 27th; in Bristow on August 9th and 10th; and in Winchester on August 13th and 14th. The last remaining public hearing is in Front Royal on August 15th at 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and August 16th at 9:30 a.m. at 89 Rockland Road, at the North Warren Volunteer Fire Department.

Testimony may be submitted in writing to: Clerk, State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. No electronic media will be accepted. Electronic submissions will be accepted at the Commission's web site: http://www.scc.virginia.gov/caseinfo.htm

 

 

Date Published: 2007-08-15 06:00:00

Section: Top Headline,