POWER TrAIL ?
No, this trail isn’t the kind of trail hikers normally report on in the pages of the VOICE. —- Rather, it is the name of a new 240-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line extending from southwestern Pennsylvania to existing substations at Mt. Storm, W.Va., and Middletown, Va., along with an interconnection with Dominion Virginia Power and continuing east to Dominion’s Loudoun Substation.
Siting plans for the TRANS-ALLEGHENY INTERSTATE LINE are underway to determine the route through portions of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia – including Hardy, Hampshire, Tucker, Grant, Preston and Monongalia Counties. (see general location map accompanying this article.)
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The following is an inquiry from friends in Preston County.
Highlands Conservancy,
I am writing as a member of the Laurel Run Community Watershed Association regarding Allegheny Energy’s 240 mile power line to be constructed from southwestern Pennsylvania to northern Virginia.
Our association was formed in 1991 to care for Laurel Run in the face of potential surface mining by Joe Laurita in southern Monongalia County near Gladesville. We were successful in halting that attempt and others over the years through close attention and grass roots complaints in the permitting process. Laurel Run, a near pristine trout stream that runs from near Halleck in Monongalia County into Three Fork Creek in Preston County, is located near route S12 proposed by PJM Interconnection, Inc which is the line contractor.
This route will transverse the property of several association members, but we are also concerned about its presence and maintenance in the Laurel Run Watershed, effect on property values, and overall impact on tourism and recreation.
At this point, we are beginning the process of contacting our local, state and federal representatives, and would like to make the Conservancy aware of the Allegheny/PJM project and the efforts we are making. We would appreciate any general pointers about issues to address, contacts for people interested in such matters, and any specific studies you might be aware of that would be helpful in our efforts.
Thank you for your assistance.
Lew McDaniel
Rt 1 Box 252
Independence, WV 26374
304-288-4078
Reaction from northern Virginia may be found at: http://www.pecva.org/landuse/energy/powerlines/index.php
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