Big power line okayed for northern West Virginia

Just before the deadline of midnight last night, the West Virignia Public Service Commission approved a massive electric transmission line that would stretch across much of the northern part of the state and has upset many rural residents. The route approved was a longer alternative that avoided the most organized opponents and eliminated the opposition of PSC staff, reports Ken Ward Jr. of The Charleston Gazette.

The Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line, which Allegheny Power Co. calls TrAIL, "was among the most controversial PSC matters in years, and is the first of two proposed major in-state power-line projects to go before the commission," Ward writes. The other is the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH), which the PSC is expected to begin considering soon. It is a joint effort of Allegheny and American Electric Power. It would connect Frederick, Md., and a power plant located between Winfield and St. Albans, W.Va.

To win approval of TrAIL, Allegheny agreed to "move a transmission operations center to West Virginia, and to save customers more than $40 million in industry rate reductions, low-income assistance and conservation plans, and deferments of rate hikes to fund the transmission line construction," Ward notes. "In an earlier settlement, the PSC consumer advocate also dropped opposition to the project. That deal required Allegheny to provide free electricity to residents whose property is crossed by the transmission line. Allegheny also pledged to severely limit clearcutting and not use aerial herbicide spraying to maintain the power line right of way." (Read more)

UPDATE, Aug. 3: Ward reports that the Sierra Club will appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court.