
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, March 20, 1995                   TAG: 9503210022
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LINDSEY SMITH
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

POWER FOR THE REGION'S GROWTH SURGE

``IS APCO'S power line necessary or just an attempt to make money?'' (Roanoke Valley Poll, conducted by Roanoke College's Center for Community Research, which asked 400 Roanoke Valley residents. The results were in the March 6 Roanoke Times & World-News.)

Yes, it's necessary - and the proof is in the newspaper's recent five-part series ``The Changing Countryside.''

Since 1990, the newspaper stated, more than 29,000 new homes have been built in the Roanoke region. At a conservative estimate of 15,000 watts per home (15 kw), an additional 435,000 kw have been required since 1990 just to supply the Roanoke region's recent residential growth. (That's assuming each homeowner requested electricity be installed in the home.) These power requirements alone represent nearly 25 percent of the new line's total capacity.

Your series discussed the phenomenal growth in the region's industrial sector, which wouldn't be possible without sufficient supplies of low-cost electric power. The series touched on new restaurants, convenience stores, grocery and discount stores, megastores and strip malls that have been built, all of which require additional electric power.

It discussed the new and expanded schools, as well as the necessity to continue adding classroom space to support the region's growth. Of course, each new classroom requires additional electric power. Not mentioned were new medical facilities, nursing and retirement homes, government offices, water-purification plants, waste-water treatment plants and numerous other facilities required to support the region's growth.

Your ``Changing Countryside'' series even predicts the same growth levels will continue in the foreseeable future. Every new home, school, business, industry and government facility will require additional electrical capacity (approximately 10 to 20 watts per square foot) to be provided by Appalachian Power Co.

I believe the high-voltage power line needs to be constructed today to adequately supply our region's growing power needs. Total electric power capacity available to the Roanoke region must be sufficient to meet all of the region's power needs ``at the flip of a switch'' in the most extreme conditions. Total power capacity must continue to grow as the region continues to grow so electricity will be available to everyone who has a desire to live or build in the region.

If the power line isn't built today, then it's obvious from ``The Changing Countryside'' series that growth will outstrip Apco's ability to provide sufficient power to the region.

Lindsey Smith is an electrical engineer for Appalachian Power Co. in the Fieldale area office.

by CNB