Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 29, 1994 TAG: 9407290094
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BETTY HAYDEN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
``We got a lot of good, specific information about the alternate corridors,'' said Joy Berg, Jefferson National Forest supervisor. ``That's incredibly useful for the analysis.''
More than 150 people turned out for an open house in Blacksburg on Thursday night and 35 people attended a similar meeting Wednesday night in Bland County.
Most in the crowd pored over the collection of maps and charts before asking the Forest Service staff questions about how the routes might affect their property.
Robin Boucher, a member of the Blacksburg-based Informed Citizens' Action Network, said people need more time to respond to the routes.
Berg said people can comment on the routes until the environmental impact process closes next spring, but she encouraged them to provide input as soon as possible.
Fifteen miles of Apco's planned 115-mile power line from Wyoming, W.Va., to Cloverdale passes through the Jefferson National Forest.
Federal law requires the Forest Service to design a route that does not cross federal land along with alternatives to the primary corridor, which passes through Craig County.
Some residents say the power line is unnecessary, but Apco executives argue that people are using more electricity than they did 20 years ago.
Since 1970, the use of electricity in Montgomery County has increased 161.2 percent, said Don Johnson, an Apco spokesman. The use has increased as the number of households with appliances such as microwaves, dishwashers, televisions and computers has grown.
Johnson says Apco can encourage more energy conservation but cannot require it.
by CNB