Download detailed maps of the proposed PATH routes

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- As a decision nears on one huge power line across northern West Virginia, plans are taking shape for another high-voltage transmission line from Charleston to Martinsburg.

Later this week, the state Public Service Commission is scheduled to announce its ruling on the $1.3 billion Trans-Allegheny Interstate Project, or TrAIL. That 500-kilovolt-transmission line runs from southwestern Pennsylvania, across northern West Virginia into Virginia.

And last week, developers began a series of "open house" meetings to discuss the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline, being promoted as PATH.

That line would run 290 miles from near the John Amos power plant outside St. Albans to a substation proposed southeast of Frederick, Md.

Allegheny Energy proposed the TrAIL project, and PATH is a joint venture between Allegheny and American Electric Power.

Supporters say that these projects are needed so the nation's aging electricity grid can continue to provide cheap and reliable power to big Eastern cities and their growing suburbs.

But TrAIL has - and PATH is almost certain to - draw intense opposition from West Virginians who fear huge power lines and towers will mar scenic views, lower their property values, and continue what they say is an environmentally damaging reliance on coal-fired electricity.

"The Sierra Club will be monitoring this issue closely, and we expect to be involved when the application is filed with the PSC; however a final decision will likely be made at that time," said Jim Kotcon, a spokesman for the group. "A lot may depend on the precedents set in the TrAIL case, as that could revise our opportunities for effectively influencing the outcome."

Under state law, the PSC must decide if the TrAIL project "will economically, adequately and reliably contribute to meeting the present and anticipated requirements for electric power of the customers served" and if it is "desirable for present and anticipated reliability of service for electric power for its service area or region."

Commissioners must also decide if the project "will result in an acceptable balance between reasonable power needs and reasonable environmental factors."

As originally proposed, the West Virginia portion of TrAIL would run about 114 miles through six counties, from north of Morgantown, through Monongalia, Preston and Tucker counties, and then across Grant, Hardy and Hampshire counties into Virginia.

Commissioners have set Saturday as their deadline for issuing a ruling in the case.

Download detailed maps of the proposed PATH routes

What do you think? Click here to leave a comment.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- As a decision nears on one huge power line across northern West Virginia, plans are taking shape for another high-voltage transmission line from Charleston to Martinsburg.

Later this week, the state Public Service Commission is scheduled to announce its ruling on the $1.3 billion Trans-Allegheny Interstate Project, or TrAIL. That 500-kilovolt-transmission line runs from southwestern Pennsylvania, across northern West Virginia into Virginia.

And last week, developers began a series of "open house" meetings to discuss the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline, being promoted as PATH.

That line would run 290 miles from near the John Amos power plant outside St. Albans to a substation proposed southeast of Frederick, Md.

Allegheny Energy proposed the TrAIL project, and PATH is a joint venture between Allegheny and American Electric Power.

Supporters say that these projects are needed so the nation's aging electricity grid can continue to provide cheap and reliable power to big Eastern cities and their growing suburbs.

But TrAIL has - and PATH is almost certain to - draw intense opposition from West Virginians who fear huge power lines and towers will mar scenic views, lower their property values, and continue what they say is an environmentally damaging reliance on coal-fired electricity.

"The Sierra Club will be monitoring this issue closely, and we expect to be involved when the application is filed with the PSC; however a final decision will likely be made at that time," said Jim Kotcon, a spokesman for the group. "A lot may depend on the precedents set in the TrAIL case, as that could revise our opportunities for effectively influencing the outcome."

Under state law, the PSC must decide if the TrAIL project "will economically, adequately and reliably contribute to meeting the present and anticipated requirements for electric power of the customers served" and if it is "desirable for present and anticipated reliability of service for electric power for its service area or region."

Commissioners must also decide if the project "will result in an acceptable balance between reasonable power needs and reasonable environmental factors."

As originally proposed, the West Virginia portion of TrAIL would run about 114 miles through six counties, from north of Morgantown, through Monongalia, Preston and Tucker counties, and then across Grant, Hardy and Hampshire counties into Virginia.

Commissioners have set Saturday as their deadline for issuing a ruling in the case.

In mid-April, Allegheny delivered a major blow to its opponents when it persuaded the PSC staff and agency consumer advocate Byron Harris to drop their strong opposition and criticism of the project.

Under the settlement, Allegheny agreed to use an alternate route proposed by the consumer advocate. Instead of cutting across southern Monongalia and Preston counties - where opposition has been the most organized - the line would go more directly south before cutting east and following existing transmission lines from Pruntytown to Mount Storm.

Allegheny also promised to move a transmission operations center to West Virginia, and to save customers more than $40 million in industry rate reductions, low-income assistance and conservation plans, and deferments of rate hikes to fund the transmission line construction.

AEP and Allegheny don't expect to file a PSC application for the PATH project until later this year.

But last week, they began a series of public meetings where residents can see early drafts of the power line route and talk with company officials.

About 40 people attended one such meeting Wednesday evening in Spencer.

"We thought it was a pretty good turnout," said AEP spokeswoman Jeri Matheny. "And it was a lively group."

More meetings are planned over the next three weeks, including one in the Kanawha Valley on Aug. 4 at West Virginia State University in Institute.

PATH includes 244 miles of 765-kilovolt transmission line from AEP's John Amos substation near St. Albans to Allegheny's Bedington substation northeast of Martinsburg. Also included are 46 miles of twin-circuit 500-kilovolt transmission lines from Bedington to a new substation near Kemptown, southeast of Frederick.

PATH is part of the AEP I-765 Interstate Project, a much larger, $3 billion, 550-mile line that would run to New Jersey.

A specific route will not be proposed until a PATH application is filed with the PSC. But drafts of possible routes show the project going through 18 to 20 counties from Charleston, northeast to Martinsburg.

Reach Ken Ward Jr. at kw...@wvgazette.com or 348-1702.