Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 28, 1993 TAG: 9304280512
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Nowhere in Simmons' response (April 17, "Congressman ignores the facts of Apco's power-line proposal") did he address my central argument: namely, that something must be done to reduce the flight of capital from our region to other states. Each year, Apco's Virginia customers are sending more than $250 million out of state because Apco generates in Virginia only 36 percent of the power its Virginia customers consume. The importation of more power over the proposed new line will only make that situation worse. We can generate the power Apco's Virginia customers need in Virginia.
As we do so, our economy will be improved. Each 100 megawatts of new power generation in Southwest Virginia would produce $1.3 million in wages and $750,000 in real-property taxes for the host locality. In addition, 350,000 tons of coal would be consumed annually. A 2,000-megawatt addition to our generation base would increase Virginia's coal production by 15 percent annually.
Simmons also states that such an alternative would cost "more than $6 billion, approximately twice the total amount of all of the company's current assets." My argument has always been that Apco could meet the increasing demand for power in its Virginia service territory by building near Virginia's coal mines its own new facilities, or relying on small independent power plants that could be built as the generation is required. At most, the 765-kv line would accommodate 2,000 megawatts of generating capacity, more than enough to meet our increasing power needs but costing on the order of $1.5 to $2 billion.
Finally, it is necessary to correct Simmons' allegation that I failed to present my ideas to the State Corporation Commission in a timely fashion. In fact, I placed in the record of the commission's proceedings a comprehensive statement suggesting this alternative on March 19, 1992.
My greatest concern is that Apco appears willing to push ahead with a transmission-reinforcement program that will continue, and likely increase, the flight of capital from Southwest Virginia without adequately exploring viable alternatives. I would welcome the opportunity to assess with Apco means of meeting the energy-growth needs of our region through the use of our region's coal resources. CONGRESSMAN RICK BOUCHER 9th District ABINGDON
by CNB