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Official recommends overhead power line
A state official recommended that Dominion Virginia Power be allowed to build an overhead power line between Leesburg and Purcellville on a 12-mile route known as "Modified D," announced Virginia's State Corporation Commission Nov. 28. The SCC's three commissioners still need to rule on the recommendation."The Modified D route with overhead construction reasonably minimizes adverse impacts to the scenic assets, historic districts, and environment of the area concerned," stated State Hearing Examiner Howard Anderson Jr. in a report to the SCC, "and therefore, should be adopted."
In February, after hearings and an extensive study were conducted, the SCC concluded that a 230-kilovolt line along the Washington and Old Dominion Trail and between the two towns was necessary to feed the power needs of western Loudoun's expanding population.
At the same time, however, the SCC also said it wanted Anderson to study the feasibility of the company laying at least a portion of the line underground. This latest conclusion was in response to that request.
Anderson, in his report to the SCC, said he recommended against an underground line because local governments did not offer to help pay for its construction.
He said an underground line also offered its own form of disruption in "trenching and removal of all root masses and stumps." He said tree damage along the W&OD Trail would be significant if the line was buried.
"Obviously, this is not the outcome that Save the Trail was hoping for," said Leesburg's Brin Luther, president of this W&OD Trail conservation group, which feels a power line would negatively effect the popular trail. "We're hoping this three-member commission will not accept his recommendation. ... This is a very sad day."
In July, the Board of Supervisors approved a resolution supporting an underground line if a power line route along the W&OD Trail was selected. Also, over the summer, state Del. Joe May (R-western Loudoun) traveled to Europe to learn more about lines there that are underground.
In his report, Anderson also noted that another line may be needed someday between Purcellville and Middleburg.
Click here to read Anderson's report.
Contact the reporter at jjacks@timespapers.com
If ever there was a report that reflected a commission’s convoluted logic, this has to be it.
Mr. Anderson said on page 2 that at the outset of the hearings, he asked if there were monies to be given by the municipal governments (Town and County) or landowners that wanted to proffer land to Dominion to ameliorate the costs of this new line. On page 11, he finalizes his finds on Loudoun County with the observation that, gee not one homeowner wanted to donate land to this just and glorious cause and for some reason. The County was not opening up its vast coffers to pay the additional costs of underground construction as compared to overhead construction.
Yet on page 20, he waxes on and on about how the next line between Middleburg and Hamilton Substation would be a perfect candidate for underground lines. No mention of land donation or payoffs.
Mr. Anderson must not remember that Dominion is a for-profit company that is publicly traded and just had a stock split. He seems to think that the citizens should not only support the poor, publicly regulated company that turned a healthy profit in its last quarter with land donations but with its taxes as well! I would love to know why I pay money to Dominion on a monthly basis if not to cover the cost of providing electricity to me.
To quote Mr. Anderson, “For the Commission to require the Company to construct this transmission line underground without any cost sharing by the locality would establish a dangerous and costly precedent for ratepayers.”
WHAT?
Posted by yougottabekiddin
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