ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 15, 1995 TAG: 9512150098
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE AND GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITERS
NOTE: Above
Western Virginians will need more electricity by the end of the century, and Appalachian Power Co.'s controversial, high-voltage power line may be the best way to meet that need, Virginia regulators said Thursday.
The State Corporation Commission issued an "interim order" approving Apco's proposed 765,000-volt line that would run 37 miles through Roanoke, Craig and Botetourt counties. It would extend another 80 miles into West Virginia.
But before the commission issues a final ruling on the line, Apco must turn in three more studies.
The utility has 60 days to report how the new line would interact with others on the East Coast power grid and exactly how it would be used in the more competitive power industry of the future.
And the commission gave Apco 90 days to study alternative routes that would avoid environmental harm to Carvins Cove and the Sinking Creek Valley in Craig County. "The primary focus of the additional study," the commission said, "is to determine whether the valley can be avoided altogether, or at least crossed with minimal additional visual and environmental impact."
Apco Vice President Charles Simmons characterized as "pleasing" the commission's finding that the power line is needed. Apco will attempt to provide the additional information the commission asked for within the time constraints it set, he said.
Power line foes said the commission's request for more information reflects the same concerns they've had for six years about the need for the line and environmental problems.
"Oh no, we're not looking at this as a defeat," said Ellen Coleman, a member of Citizens for the Preservation of Craig County. "We are delighted that the commission recognizes the beauty of the Sinking Creek Valley."
Thursday's order does not appear to change the timeline for the power line. The U.S. Forest Service still plans to issue a draft environmental impact statement in April, said Bill Damon, supervisor for the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Apco's proposed line crosses about 12 miles of the forest.
Damon had not seen the commission's 24-page order and could not comment on it directly, but he reiterated that he won't sign off on a final environmental report until both Virginia and West Virginia have ruled on the power line's need
Among other things, the State Corporation Commission found:
nPower demand in Western Virginia and the eastern part of West Virginia has increased, and will continue to grow.
nThe proposed transmission line "may be the most reasonable method" of fulfilling the need. That's because, among other things, it would be cheaper than building new power plants here. Smaller lines would not be the answer, either, because it would take 15 138,000 volt lines to carry the same amount of power as the proposed line.
nApco's preferred route for the line may be environmentally acceptable if proper measures are taken to lessen its impact.
nThere is a need to study how the line will serve the public interest in light of corporate restructuring at Apco's parent, American Electric Power Co. of Columbus, Ohio, and a federal proposal to compel companies to open access to their transmission lines to competing power producers.
Simmons acknowledged that changes have come to Apco and are coming to the power industry nationally, but said the line is needed to serve existing customers rather than any new customers the company may get in the future.
Apco, in fact, will disappear in January as a power distributor. In order to better compete under deregulation, American Electric Power has reorganized its business by the functions of power generation and transmission rather than by geographic region. The commission said in its order that it wants AEP to explain how it will protect its Virginia customers as its business changes.
William Bilenky, a Richmond lawyer who represents several of the opposition groups, said the commission's order is "not a stamp of approval by any means."
Opponents had argued that conservation and other measures by Apco would do away with the need for the new line. But the commission disagreed that conservation, by itself, would eliminate its need.
The SCC did say that conservation will be needed to ensure reliable service in the long term.
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Chart: What happens next. color. May by staff. color.by CNB