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Proposed power line in Washington, Greene counties stopped

7 min read

The Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Co., also known as TrAIL Co, is the Allegheny Energy subsidiary and affiliate of Allegheny Power that filed with state Public Utility Commission to construct the Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line (TrAIL) project. The line in Washington and Greene counties would be a part of the line that crosses the states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia. Many of the properties that the line would have crossed in Greene and Washington counties were currently under the ownership of those other than the ones who signed away the rights. Those still in ownership of the properties contend that they did not know that it would eventually be a 500 KV line that would run across their property.

It was a nearly two-year battle for the residents and government officials who represent Washington and Greene counties to stop the proposed line.

The proposed line took advantage of right-of-ways obtained from landowners more than 30 years ago.

During a press conference held Monday in the Greene County Commissioners’ meeting room to announce the agreement, Commission Chairwoman Pam Snyder said that she, her colleagues at the county and state levels, and the people of Greene and Washington counties have vehemently fought this issue.

“We know that the process through the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has worked,” Snyder said.

“We couldn’t be prouder that the administrative law judges of the PUC heard our voices loud and clear and handed down a favorable opinion in August on this matter.”

The line would have run between the 502 Junction through Greene and Washington counties to the Prexy Facility in Washington County, according to Snyder.

The agreement reached in August ensures that there will not be a 500-kilovolt line running through Greene County on any site. The agreement also returns the right-of-ways to the landowners free and clear for the properties on which they were purchased those 30-plus years ago, Snyder told the audience.

The order handed down by administrative law judges Mark A. Hoyer and Michael A. Nemec on Aug. 21, concluded that the power line was not necessary to meet the local energy demands for Washington and Greene counties but instead would have served areas to the east.

In a compromise with TrAIL Co, a 1.2-mile portion of the line located in Greene County was approved for construction.

“The only portion we will be responsible for the costs of is the 1.2 miles from the 502 Junction south to the Mason-Dixon Line,” said state Sen. J. Barry Stout, D-Bentleyville, who was also present at the press conference.

“This is a very good agreement for the future of Washington and Greene Counties and the constituents that I represent. This cures many of the problems and is a very significant agreement.”

State Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, who gave testimony to the PUC regarding the TrAIL Co Project last year, gave a statement from Harrisburg on Monday, where he was in session regarding the agreement.

“My staff and I are reviewing the agreement announced (Monday). On first read, we are cautiously optimistic that the agreement will address the concerns of so many of my constituents, who spoke with a strong voice, in whom I joined in opposing the entire Trail project,” DeWeese said. “It’s important to keep in mind that the PUC still must sign off on the deal before it is effective.”

In the testimony given by DeWeese in September 2007 before the PUC, he spoke of the “proliferation of high voltage transmission lines as a shortsighted 20th Century approach that overlooks contemporary alternatives to conventional transmission expansion.”

DeWeese suggested that the construction of such lines could be instead addressed by non-transmission alternatives, including demand response and advanced metering that would, according to DeWeese, enhance reliability in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

James R. Haney, vice president of transmission for Allegheny Energy, was also present at the press conference.

Haney talked about the collaboration that has taken place and will continue to in regards to the TrAIL Co Project.

A group of interested parties, including landowners and local government officials, will be asked to provide input prior to initiating aspects of the project, according to Haney.

Haney said that there is the potential for such input on future major projects as well if things work out for this one.

“The 1.2 miles is very important to the overall grid and we are very happy that they have agreed to support that,” Haney said of the Greene County commissioners. “The rest of the line we are building is going into Loudin County, Va. This grid upgrade is necessary to keep reliability for the overall grid in the east.”

Allegheny Energy/TrAIL Co has agreed not to attempt to use eminent domain or to go through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to have the decision by the administrative law judges of the PUC overturned.

The final permit date is the date on which the Greene County Planning Commission issues all of the final permits requested by TrAIL Co, without imposition of conditions unacceptable to TrAIL Co.

Upon issuance of the permits and acceptance by TrAIL Co, TrAIL Co agrees to pay Greene County $750,000 in three equal installments, as stated in the agreement handed down by the PUC.

The payment of the first $250,000 is to be made not later than six months after the final permit date. The second payment is to be made not later than eighteen months after the final permit date.

The third and final payment is to be made by TrAIL Co no later than 30 months after the final permit date.

Greene County officials agreed to use such contributions for the support of educational, environmental, public health and community infrastructure projects located in Greene County, or for other costs incurred by Greene County, at the county’s discretion.

An additional perk that was placed into the agreement is the support by TrAIL Co to use their “reasonable commercial efforts” to aid in the construction of electric facilities for the Meadow Ridge Industrial Park in Perry Township, Greene County.

All parts of this agreement are contingent upon the PUC accepting and approving the agreement by Feb. 16, 2009, in a final order that does not amend or impose additional terms that are unacceptable to TrAIL Co.

In response to the agreement, the Energy Conservation Council of Pennsylvania – a grassroots organization dedicated to protecting the natural resources of southwestern Pennsylvania – issued a press release Tuesday, in which they stressed that the agreement between the Greene County Commissioners and Allegheny Power does not end the proceedings underway with the PUC.

The press release states that the agreement shows that the PUC administrative law judges’ decision was correct, because TrAILCo has agreed that it needs to look at alternatives to their alleged issues.

“The bottom line remains the same,” said Laurie Nicholl, president of the board of directors of the Energy Conservation Council, in the release.

“TrAILCo has not proven a need for any new transmission facilities. They should completely withdraw their application.”

The release states that ECC, one of the most active parties standing in opposition to the TrAIL project at the PUC, was not included in the discussions of the agreement between between TrAILCo and the county commissioners, and neither were the families most affected by the power line issue.

“We are confident that the PUC will continue to evaluate the issues objectively, and not let side deals influence their evaluation,” Nicholl said.

“We encourage TrAILCo to withdraw its application at the PUC and end this charade once and for all. If one Pennsylvania family is sacrificed in an effort to reach this agreement, it is too high a price to pay.”

(Additional information by Steve Barrett)

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