No Coal-by-Wire Transmission. Oppose TrAILCo.
With a new president in 2009, the U.S is poised to take decisive action to address global warming. In anticipation of tighter controls on coal, utilities like Dominion-Virginia Power are rushing to get new coal fired power plants and power lines in place as quickly as possible. With your help we can stop these projects that are now pending before the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
Tell the Commission that you oppose the petition before the State Corporation Commission by Dominion Power and Allegheny Power to construct a transmission line through Virginia for the following reasons:
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- There has not been an adequate consideration of specific alternatives to new transmission lines, including a full range of demand management and peak demand reduction measures; energy conservation measures; and alternative transmission technologies and upgrades;
- Construction of this power line would permit the expanded use of coal based electricity, increasing global warming pollution;
- There has not been an assessment of impacts on the environment, a requirement by the National Environmental Policy Act which is reasonable given the demonstrated potential impacts on historic, scenic, natural, and cultural resources in the proposed corridor; and,
- Dominion should be required to provide the public with the data and assumptions to enable independent verification of the claimed potential for power disruptions in Northern Virginia.
The 500-kV transmission line proposed by Dominion Virginia Power and Allegheny Power (through their subsidiary TrAILCo) would begin in Western Pennsylvania, cross through West Virginia, and end in Loudoun County, Virginia. In Virginia it would pass through the Meadow Brook Substation in Frederick County on its way to the Arcola Substation in Loudoun County.
The 10-16 story-tall transmission line would cut through private land, public open space, neighborhoods, historic sites, historic districts, magnificent viewsheds and a high concentration of conservation easements. In Virginia alone the transmission line would impact Frederick, Warren, Rappahannock, Culpeper, Fauquier, Prince William and Loudoun Counties. In addition, approval of the transmission line would lead to increasing reliance on remote coal-fired power plants in the Ohio River Valley with continuing or increasing transmission congestion, transmission losses and environmental damage.
Dominion and Allegheny’s proposal is unnecessary, expensive and would ultimately leave the grid more vulnerable. Furthermore, simple alternatives that have significantly less impact are available to the power companies to meet the electricity needs of Northern Virginia for today and into the future.
Dominion and TrAILCo have applied to the State Corporation Commission for permission to construct the line. Their applications are being challenged by numerous parties (including Piedmont Environmental Council) in cases before the VA SCC – Cases PUE-2007-00031 and PUE-2007-00033. The Dominion/Allegheny proposal is also being contested in front of the state utility commissions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
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