Officials announce new scholarships
WAYNESBURG – One student from each of the five school districts in Greene County will receive a $1,000 scholarship to attend Waynesburg University in the fall, and two from each district will receive scholarships annually from next year on, the Greene County commissioners recently announced. The money will come from an endowment the commissioners and Allegheny Energy established using $250,000 from the $750,000 settlement they reached to put an end to the utility company’s plans to build a high-voltage power line through the county. Allegheny Energy gave the university $100,000 during a press conference at the school on June 4 and will give $100,000 next year followed by $50,000 in 2011 to fund the County of Greene/Allegheny Energy Scholarship.
The scholarships will go to graduating senior majoring in science, business, education or engineering.
“This is an excellent day for Greene County,” university President Timothy R. Thyreen said.
He said economic development through sustainable education is important for the county.
Pam Snyder, chairman of the board of commissioners, said the commissioners could have placed the entire sum in the county’s general fund, but they wanted to do something to benefit future generations.
“It’s about leaving Greene County better for the next generation,” Snyder said.
“To be part of something that will last forever is very important,” said Jim Haney of Allegheny Power. “This school is something we’ll be proud of for a long time to come.”
Snyder said the county fought an emotional, two-year battle against the proposed 37-mile, 500-kilovolt Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line, or TrAIL.
The line would have run between Dunkard Township in Greene County to North Strabane Township in Washington County and would have required new substations at each location.
The state Public Utility Commission denied permission to build most of the line but permitted construction of a 1.2-mile section from Dunkard Township to the West Virginia border.
From there the line will go to Virginia.
The PUC also called for Allegheny Power and Greene and Washington counties to collaborate to find solutions to potential electrical service reliability problems.
Allegheny Power agreed to pay Greene County $750,000 in three installments after it received the permits to building the line from the county.
State Sen. J. Barry Stout, D-Bentleyville, said Allegheny Power is working with Washington County officials to develop ways to meet the increasing demand for power in that county.
Independent experts are conducting an analysis and will make recommendations, Stout said.
He also said Allegheny Energy’s settlement with Greene County will not impact customer electric rates.