Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (3)
Motions denied: PATH stays on track
A state hearing examiner Nov. 24 denied residents' requests to block the proposed Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline from coming to Northern Loudoun.
He also denied power companies' request for more time to prepare their case to build the line.
During a hearing Nov. 19 in Lovettsville, representatives for American Electric Power and Allegheny Power had argued a motion to extend the timeline of the application into fall 2010. Opponents of PATH argued their own motion, asking State Corporation Commission hearing examiner Alexander Skirpan to dismiss the application to build the power line altogether.
Skirpan denied all of the motions, so PATH will move forward as scheduled. Skirpan released an eight-page ruling Nov. 24 explaining why he denied each motion.
Although opponents of PATH had their motions denied, attorney John Flannery, who represents the River's Edge community the line is projected to go through, said he was pleased with the ruling against the power companies' motion to extend the timeline.
"We challenged whether PATH could show any need for this power line when they said they had to wait upon data not available until next July 2010," Flannery said. "Hearing Examiner Skirpan has responded by saying that PATH has to play by the same rules as everyone else and their deadline to meet our testimony and arguments was and is December 22, 2009, and it's not changing."
In his ruling against the power companies' motion to extend the timeline, Skirpan noted the public's interest in the issue.
“During the oral arguments and testimony from public witnesses, several people expressed the need to have this proceeding decided quickly to remove the uncertainty of whether or where the proposed transition line will be built,” Skirpan wrote.
“I find PATH's motion for modification adds months of uncertainty to the case, not to mention the additional burdens and costs of additional rounds of testimony and analysis."
PATH is a proposed 275-mile, 765,000-volt power line that would stretch from West Virginia to Maryland, crossing Loudoun north of Lovettsville for about 10 miles along its way.
The PATH application has already been dismissed in Maryland due to errors in its submission, but American Electric Power and Allegheny Power plan to refile in the state by the end of the year.
Under the current timeline, the SCC will rule on the application in mid-2010.
It is beyond me how one moron in Richmond can have such power of the lives and futures of so many people. If anything, we need to get rid of the SCC, or have more control over it. This guy Skirpan must be in someones pocket at PATH.
Posted by tangerine
Report Offensive Content
It must be awful to go through life, knowing that everyone and everything that is contrary to your personal best interests is nefarious, shady, under-handed, illegal, and immoral. You should be our Supreme Leader, Tangerine Justice for all.
Posted by xyz123
Report Offensive Content
xyz123...don't know who you are but what could be "fair" about one person making such a decision that affects countless others? I am not saying my personal interests should "rule", but the words you use "nefarious, shady, underhanded" certainly apply to PATH..who are in it just for the money, the greed and don't care at all about whose lives they ruin in their goals to bully their way across WV, VA and MD...Dominion has already done that...my guess is that you are either a PATH employee or worse..an SCC member. Shame on you..
Posted by tangerine
Report Offensive Content
You must be logged in to post a comment.