WV PSC Holds PATH Public Hearing at West Virginia Wesleyan College - WOWK-TV

BUCKHANNON -- About 200 people crowded into West Virginia Wesleyan College's Benedum Campus Center for the West Virginia Public Service Commission's public comment hearing on the proposed Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline, or PATH line, on Thursday. Some are concerned the line will bring down their property values.

"If it comes through my property it will cut the value of my property in half and destroy my tree farm," says John Cobb, a Lewis County resident.

Others are worried about the health problems that the 765 kilovolt transmission line could cause.

"Electrical power, for years people have been saying that it causes cancer. Cancer is already in my family and I don't think we need more things like that to cause cancer in other families," says Carol Bowman, an Upshur County resident.

Allegheny Energy says there are no studies that show high powered transmission lines cause health problems, and says landowners in the proposed PATH route will be paid for their land.

Some residents say the 200 mile line is not needed and say it will benefit the East Coast while destroying the natural beauty of West Virginia, but Allegheny Energy says there is a need for the line.

"With an interconnected system, we're all dependent upon each other. If we have problems east of here, where a lot of power is flowing in that direction. These problems can spread throughout the region where there's transmission lines that get overloaded," says Doug Colafella, with Allegheny Energy.

Colafella says the Maryland public service commission recently denied Allegheny's PATH application based on a technicality. He says a similar motion to dismiss the application has been filed in Virginia's State Corporation Commission. Upshur County residents say those are two reasons why the West Virginia Public Service Commission should say no to PATH.

They should also ask the applicants to withdraw and resubmit when there is a project that is worthwhile and effective," says Tim Higgins, an Upshur County resident.

The PSC is holding another public comment hearing Thursday at Wesleyan at 6:30.

Allegheny Energy says it plans to refile its application with the Maryland PSC and says it has two weeks to respond to the Virginia SCC dismissal motion.

The West Virginia PSC will make its decision in June.

One comment I left out of my previous comment, I wanted to add. Allegheny Power has stated all along that they will pay for our land that they will be using. Don't they see? There are just some things that money can't buy. It can't buy our views, our destroyed timber, our heritage...The list goes on and on. It is so nice to see that West Virginians cannot be bought and are not persuaded by the almighty buck. Hang in there West Virginia! Together we will prevail!

PJM, Allegheny, and AEP all claim there is a need...there's a need! That may be true. But the need is miles away from here! The only answer we get from the electric companies is that the grid needs strengthened. That's not a good enough reason. They need to elaborate. I truly believe the electric companies know their time is short as being the top dogs on the totem pole. They are really pushing this line. Even though there is no end. I think they think if they can push it through WV, they'll be able to obtain their end results. I'm not sure what their angle is. I really believe that the PSC would dismiss the PATH if not for the fact that our own Governor wants this thing to go through. I don't think Americans want to be connected, electrically speaking. I think that is the big plan. Connected from coast to coast. I do not think that is safe. It is a bad idea and not safe as far as National Security goes. I'm just baffled! I did want to say that I went to both hearings in Buckhannon yesterday. I wrote down every speaker, whether they approved or disapproved, and the jest of what their comment was. There were 81 speakers who gave their comments. 16 approved of PATH and 65 disapproved of PATH. "65!!!" Of the 16 who approved, all but 2 are working for the electric companies, are currently working on TrAIL, or own a business that will provide for PATH, should it go through. From some of these individuals, I got the impression that if it weren't for the power lines going in, or if it weren't for those going in already, they could not live their lives in a manner they are accustomed to. Well what about our lives? Are our lives not as important as their's? Has everyone forgotten, "All men are created equal"? I think they have forgotten. It all boils down to Greed, and WV citizens will have to foot the bill and pay their salaries and pay for PATH, and become poorer and poorer, while the rich man gets richer and richer. "Come on PSC; Do the right thing! STOP PATH!" The public has spoken!

The information in this article is not correct. Allegheny's application in Maryland was not rejected "on a technicality." It was rejected because the company that is proposed to own PATH in Maryland cannot do so under Maryland law. When asked by the Maryland PSC to tell them if they were going to re-apply, Allegheny responded by saying they didn't know if they would re-apply or not. This is not a "technicality." It is a basic violation of Maryland law on who can or cannot apply to build a power line in Maryland.

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