Lots of folks have received letters or phone calls from Dominion Power or their consultants recently regarding a proposed rebuild of the Mt. Storm - Doubs 500kV line.  In response to your questions, all we can say right now is that we're still investigating.

If you are looking for more information to form your own opinion about what's going on, here are a couple of things I've dug up for your perusal:

Dominion's website with more information about the project.  Contains maps, "fact" sheet, FAQ, project timeline and specs.

We first saw this project mentioned as "Alternative 1" in Dominion's PATH alternative proposal presented to PJM in May of this year.  Unfortunately, this rebuild was also included in Alternatives 2, 3 and 4, which also contain some portion of PATH being built, including PATH in its entirety.  See this link for the latest PJM TEAC document.  The first few pages discuss the project and show some shocking pictures of deterioration of the tower structures.  Of course, power companies and propaganda go together like peanut butter and jelly, so keep that in mind.  Read Page 15 carefully for a few clues before you become a cheerleader for this project, thinking it's going to solve all your problems with PATH:  "Window of opportunity to get line outages after Trail is placed in service in the Spring of 2011
Transmission owners should use best efforts to complete the work by 2015
– If sufficient outages can not be obtained to complete the work by 2015, the full scope will be finished following PATH being placed in-service.
– After completion of PATH, outages should be more available
– Based on worst case estimate, the project could take as long as nine years; therefore it is imperative the parties start as soon as possible"

See also Dominion's Q3 2010 Earnings Call, which contains this quote:

"Also, yesterday, PJM announced its intention to recommend to the PJM Board the reconductoring of our Mt. Storm-to-Doubs line as part of the 2010 Regional Transmission Expansion Plan. We anticipate formal PJM approval in December, in line with our expectations since we first announced this project at our May financial conference."

The Earnings Calls are famous sources for fat cat executives posturing for their investors, so take that with a grain of salt as well.

If you're really curious, come to one of the "Open House" meetings to be held in Winchester and Lovettsville next week.  Although these "Open Houses" are supposed to be for Virginia residents, with similar ones for West Virginia residents to be held early next year, we encourage you to attend and ask as many questions as your patience will allow.  I almost feel sorry for the Dominion guys after PATH has made such a mess of their relationship with the public.  Remember, these guys aren't responsible for PATH, although they are responsible for TrAIL, so give everything the "sniff test", but be polite.

November 16, 5:00 - 7:30 PM - James Wood High School cafeteria, 161 Apple Pie Ridge Road, Winchester, VA 22603

November 17, 5:00 - 7:30 PM - Lovettsville Community Center, 57 East Broad Way, Lovettsville, VA 20180

It's time for more fun with another arrogant and wide of the mark power company power point presentation about how to overcome citizen opposition that gives us a peek into their twisted, greedy, Machiavellian minds.  This time it's from Lisa Barton of American Electric Power.  At least she's literate (except for her 300 pond elephant and capitalization issues -- doesn't anyone proofread their work product anymore?) which is more than I could say for Allegheny Energy's Aldie Warnock and Holly Kauffman.  Don't worry, Aldie, the title I bestowed upon you of world's highest-paid functional illiterate is still safe!

Lisa presented Transmission Siting – How Should it work, and How Do We Succeed in Today’s World?? (wow!  two question marks -- must be a real puzzler!) at an Edison Electric Institute meeting and  must have thought she was a real Einstein because AEP had finally managed to get a transmission project online after SIXTEEN YEARS of opposition.  Hey, Lisa, what's the sound of one hand clapping?

Okay, shall we get started?  Page 2, Agenda, let's hear all about AEP's take on transmission siting as a barrier...
Now we're "a barrier"?  I guess it's better than a NIMBY, NOPE or BANANA, but this money-grubbing corporation still fails to see what's really in their way -- PEOPLE!  I guess it helps them to sleep at night if they can replace the wrecking of human lives with euphemisms like "barrier".  Next up, developing and implementing a plan for siting, a relevant case study and results of an outreach strategy... that only took a short SIXTEEN YEAR course to sweet victory!  Right...

Next slide, aren't we special?  We're number 1!  All others are number 2 or lower!  Well, except for that Domestic Generation thing, but who's counting?   Lisa, who cares? (?)  See, that' a real puzzler too!

Slide four, AEP's vision of the next interstate!  However, we've all seen this map before and when not looked at through myopic, rose-colored glasses with big dollar signs in the lenses, reality looks more like this. 

Moving right along into the real "meat", Barriers to Transmission Development - The Three Horsemen!  Three?  She may be able to construct a sentence, but her literary and math skills leave a bit to be desired.  The phrase is Four Horsemen (of the Apocalypse).  How apt!  However, I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, did you?  She probably thought she was just being incredibly clever.  Sigh. 

Oh, look, reference to President Eisenhower's interstate highway system!  Where have we heard that before?  Oh, I remember, it was at the power company sponsored, ratepayer financed astroturf forum where they used President Eisenhower's granddaughter as an "expert" on the electric grid! 

"Siting: How do we site needed transmission on an expedited basis to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is developed to support inevitable changes to our supply portfolio?"  Oh, I see, it's not about needed transmission, it's about supporting your supply portfolio!  Well, that's enough reason for me to endanger my health and give up my home for an unneeded transmission line -- AEP needs to support their supply portfolio and make even more money!  Gosh, I love you, AEP!  You're always thinking of me first!

Let's not forget the big problem of cost allocation!  AEP doesn't want to have a 300 pond elephant (Lisa's got a mini-elephant) stinking up the place and impeding their cash flow.  I know!  Let's get the consumers to pay for our infrastructure!  They won't mind!  Well, sorry, Lisa, we do mind.  We mind a great deal.  You know that phrase, "you've gotta pay to play"?  It applies to AEP, too.

Slide 6, Siting, a delicate but important balance...  What?  A few slides ago we were nothing but a "barrier", now we're delicate but important?  Sorry to disappoint, but we're not really that delicate -- it's going to take a lot more effort to unbalance us than you originally thought.  Setting yourself up with FERC backstop siting authority and changing the paradigm that caused you sixteen years of misery with Jackson's Ferry/Wyoming was slick, but it still remains untested and has been weakened in the courts.  Back to the drawing board!

Let's move into the case study -- Jackson's Ferry/Wyoming.  Even though you have "changed the siting paradigm" (who loves the word "paradigm"?  Lisa loves that word "paradigm"! Hooray!) you still have to operate in the present "paradigm" system and it's not working for you.  Time to choose a new favorite word!

Nifty map -- coal fired power plants, transmission lines and what's that green stuff?  *scream*  It's people!  The Soylent Green of transmission line siting!

Now let's talk about Key Outreach Principles -- you know, those tactics that took sixteen years to work with Jackson's Ferry/Wyoming and that you are still trying to use with the PATH project 10 years later? 

“Do the research” – don’t assume to know the issues and/or the scope of the public’s questions and/or concerns. Research is an ongoing – not one time – exercise.  You know, stop being so damned arrogant and quit wasting your money on blowhards like Charles Ryan Associates who merely tell you what they think you want to hear then laugh at you behind your back because they're soaking you (really the ratepayers).  You'll never know our issues because you can't think of us as people, just "barriers".  So, keep exercising -- that running around in circles thing you do so well.

Develop a flexible plan – be strategic, proactive and consistent. Need to consider multiple issue areas.  Yeah, and just keep trying to steer your Titanic around the constantly shifting opposition iceberg.  You're just not built for it.

“Keep it simple” – honesty, transparency and a respectful attitude are critical. Credibility takes years to build and only seconds to lose, and once it’s gone........
It's already gone, baby, gone!  Sorry, but your dishonest, abstruse and disrespectful attitude has prevented you from gaining any traction from day one... and instead of trying to right your image, you only debase yourselves further with slimier, more dishonest tactics.

Remember that people want information – if you’re not providing it, they will take it from where they can get it, including sources of propaganda.  Unless it's YOUR propaganda -- people just laugh at that... until the bill comes!  What people want is CREDIBLE information, such as that provided by other opposition members.  See paragraph directly above.

Keep feedback loops open and flowing – transmission siting is a long process and continually incorporating feedback into the outreach strategy is critical.  Feedback loops?  Is that when I drive by your office and stick my middle finger out the window?  We are well aware that you don't give a rat's behind what we think or feel as long as you can take our land from us.  Before the ink is dry on the contract, you're nothing but a dust cloud.  See also reference to Titanic above.

Let's talk concerns:
Concerns – personal property impacts, viewsheds, perceived lack of local benefit, wildlife, health, tourism
How about LACK OF NEED?  It's always the last thing to cross your mind there, genius!
Media – preference TV, then papers
We know how to read!  Nobody pays attention to the advertising during Dr. Phil!
Supporters – men, seniors, higher and lower income brackets
The only "supporters" PATH has are the ones in their gym lockers.
Opponents – women, younger, college educated
And everybody else, including politicians and the media.
Population – 25% didn’t complete hs, 42% hs grad, 15% percent college grad
Power company whose statistics only add up to 82% - 1.  Where do you think you're building this thing?  Some undeveloped third-world country?  You just keep telling yourself that about us and pretending you're "smarter".
Average Household income - $21,000
Time for new stats!  You've expanded into the Washington D.C. metro area this time, Mr. Magoo!
Perceptions – 2/3 viewed AEP favorably
We all hate you.  Try to think of it as a challenge.

Now let's talk messages:
Power line is needed urgently and will deliver substantial local and regional benefits (Infrastructure drives economy, both near and longer term)
Hey there, little boy, you've yelled "wolf" so many times that nobody even hears you anymore.  "Need" is a dinosaur left over from your last "urgent" project.
AEP treats people, environment with respect – important message, but must be supported through consistent action.
You mean like how Allegheny Energy treated (cheated) the landowners and destroyed the environment with the TrAIL project?  That sure shows consistency -- you wrecked everything and everybody in your path like Godzilla on the way to Tokyo.
AEP demonstrated commitment to working with the public, regulators to solve the problem – input is key to the final product and stakeholders must feel vested in the outcome.
Oh, like hell you did!  You stomped all over everything and everybody and what you couldn't buy you coerced.  Have you ever considered that YOU are the problem that needs to be "solved"?

How about Execution Highlights?  Is that where you execute the people who become the Soylent Green on your maps?
Established employee ambassadors, provided front line employees with information
You mean like those shifty land agents who would lie and steal the last slice of bread in our pantry?  They are the perfect ambassadors for you though  - a little "truth in advertising" for who they represent.
Coalition established, supporters – labor, business - were kept informed and were active
"Coalition" -- a power company directed PR tool that creates fake "grassroots" groups using huge amounts of ratepayer funding.  Astroturf is no longer a cute parlor trick -- we all know what you're doing and nobody believes you.  And it's about to get a lot worse for you.
Key audiences identified – elected officials, customers, shareholders, unions, media, public, supporters, employees, retirees, etc.
Just because you identify an audience, it doesn't guarantee that they will show up at your performance!
Tools – videos, presentations, fact sheets, brochures, direct mail, advertising, news releases, letters, project info line and web site
And you!  You're the biggest bunch of tools I've ever encountered.
Tailored every message for every audience
This is not possible.  No wonder you're such a failure.
Advertising – Consistent and frequent use of print/television partners included Wild Turkey Federation, Nature Conservancy, local industry, homeowners
Oh, I see you've already bought up the Wild Turkey Federation again for the PATH project.  Looks like the Nature Conservancy hasn't fallen for the same trick again -- yet.  Local industry will always sell out to the highest bidder, but nobody listens to them anyway, and you can forget about "homeowners" -- those are your victims, not your tools, remember?
Media – More than 200 stories a year in project area – consistency and frequency of message – remember; people have a need for information!
Yes, we remember.  This is why we control our local media and have over 200 stories a year.  In the tri-state, we even control your media events!
Establishment of web and phone based information and continual reminders of the availability of those services.
Remind us all you want.  You're the last place we'd go for information or assistance. 

I'm not going to copy and paste the next slide -- it just prattles along about public opinion during their sixteen year odyssey.  Just the fact that it took them sixteen years to ramrod this thing through says it all.  I'm willing to bet that even after more than 20 years, there are still plenty of folks who are angry about it down in Bluefield.  Am I right?

Finally, the last slide shows photos from their dedication ceremony.  Nevermind the text -- we all know that a picture is worth a thousand words.  The first photo shows super-rich AEP CEO Michael Morris either giving or receiving what looks like a landscape painting.  Are those transmission towers on top of the mountain in the painting?  Morris looks a bit perplexed, like he's thinking... "Those transmission towers were supposed to be painted in right down the middle of the road!  Someone's in big trouble here!".  The daisy chain of fawning politicians is a study in ridiculous expressions.  Here's a game we can play -- in the comments you can tell me what you think each of them was thinking in the picture.  Last thought about this photo -- is this painting going to be an addition to some bigwig's living room?  The only addition us "barriers" have gotten to our own living rooms lately has been the intrusion of PATH right into the middle of the room where PATH squatted and left a nasty-smelling mess on the rug.  How rude!  We don't intrude into your living room, get the hell out of ours!

Second photo -- crowd shot.  Looks like they had nasty weather.  Even Mother Nature was crying that day.  Looks like an awful lot of police presence at the back of the crowd for the few people sitting in the chairs.  Did each attendee need their own personal protection?  Speaks volumes.

So, I really don't have any other plans for the next 14 years.  Guess I'll be seeing ya around, PATH!

The Calhoun Power Line has a new post laying out some basic FACTS about PATH.  Everyone will benefit by reading this brief overview of fully referenced FACTS.  Reading it would certainly benefit the bloated, self-important clown college interns at Charles Ryan Associates, who are purporting to "educate" the public with lies that insult the intelligence of West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland citizens.  At a cost totaling over three million dollars (and counting) in 2009 alone, we should demand more than the series of bad ideas and failures Charles Ryan Associates has been delivering for the PATH project.  How about a little honesty for a change?

Bill is disseminating these facts for FREE, unlike PATH's greedy "spokesman" puppets, some of whom have been collecting upwards of $20,000 per month in pay and "expenses" that spare no creature comfort... all on your dime through FERC-granted cost recovery schemes that allow Alleghengy Energy and American Electric Power to collect their anticipated expenditures (with no caps or oversight) from your electric bill every month since March, 2008.

If I had that kind of revenue stream going on, I'd put Bill up in a cushy hotel, buy him lobster dinners and transport him in a stretch limo while he sips on champagne to Rotary Club meetings to provide FACTS about PATH.

Unfortunately for Bill, I take the stewardship of other people's money seriously.

Here's another fact:  PATH makes as big a mockery of their stewardship of the public's money as they do their stewardship of your environment, health, quality of life, and property.  They just don't give a damn.

How crooked and evil do you have to be before you actually begin to acknowledge and take pride in your own underhanded, immoral deeds?  This would be a good question to ask PATH and their fleet of attorneys this week as the battle over discovery between PATH and West Virginia intervenor Ali Haverty heats up.

Ali filed a discovery request seeking detail of payments made by PATH in 2009 and categorized under the following accounts in FERC's Uniform System of Accounts:

426.1  Donations.  This account shall include all payments or donations for charitable, social or community welfare purposes.

Most corporations are proud of their good deeds and are only too happy to share them as a source of pride!

426.4  Expenditures for certain civic, political and related activities. This account shall include expenditures for the purpose of influencing public opinion with respect to the election or appointment of public officials, referenda, legislation, or ordinances (either with respect to the possible adoption of new referenda, legislation or ordinances or repeal or modification of existing referenda, legislation or ordinances) or approval, modification, or revocation of franchises; or for the purpose of influencing the decisions of public officials, but shall not include such expenditures which are directly related to appearances before regulatory or other governmental bodies in connection with the reporting utility's existing or proposed operations.

Lots of words up there when just one would do --
BRIBE, aka, buy off, pay off, suborn, grease someone's palm, fix, square, inducement, incentive, payola, payoff, kickback, boodle or sweetener.  Just because this account exists in FERC's USoA doesn't mean it is applicable to and an appropriate expenditure of ratepayer money on a project such as PATH.  Indeed, if this account contains questionable payments it would mean that the ratepayers are paying PATH to distribute the right bribes to get their project approved.  Do any of you ratepayers want to volunteer to have your pocket picked for this expense?  It's all just one big gravy train for the utilities and they never thought they'd be questioned.  FERC certainly doesn't ask questions unless someone complains.

PATH's attorney objected to this request.  Ali was forced to file a motion to compel, which calls into question the character of PATH and whether or not they should be granted public utility status in West Virginia, a state already fraught with political corruption and bribery on the part of out-of-state corporations who are raping and pillaging our state and its residents in pursuit of outrageous profits.  Jackson Kelly's Melick filed this response, claiming that PATH's character should not be a determining factor by the PSC, although the PSC shall determine whether the project will be in the best interests of West Virginia's customers and citizens.  Is granting the power of eminent domain to a company who is busy using the ratepayers' money for bribes to get their project approved really a good idea?  Certainly not in West Virginia, whose history is rich with corruption by businesses and politicians!  What I found very amusing here is that Melick doesn't try to deny that PATH is a shady entity who may be bribing public officials!  So, there you have it, from the fingertips of PATH's own counsel.  They're not of good character when it comes to the question of using ratepayer money for "certain civic and political activities" and "donations" used to grease the wheels for approval of PATH.

Since Melick accused Ali of not providing any examples, today she filed this Addendum to Motion to Compel.  Looks like she's giving Melick a run for his money!  (Or, wait, that's probably OUR money, too!)

The horse has already escaped, fellas, quit banging the barn door shut!  The public knows what you are doing with your "donations" and "contributions" and the more you protest to keep them hidden, the worse you look.  Thanks for helping us convince the public of just how shady the PATH companies are!

Once again, it's all about the profit and not about any imagined "need"!

Remember last week when PATH swore up and down before the Frederick County Planning Commission that the Mt. Airy substation would not be lit or manned?

Not that anyone in the room (most likely including PATH) believed a word of it, but in this article, Meyers contradicts their lies.

"Meyers said he couldn't delve into specifics about the company's security plan for the site, but said the site will be secure from potential issues. "There will be adequate security measures," he said. "It'll be monitored 24-7."

Are we supposed to imagine that it will be monitored 24-7 by robots or cameras equipped with night vision capabilities?  How is a dark, unmanned substation going to be monitored 24-7?  Doesn't sound very secure to me.  Someone's been watching too much TV!

Onsite personnel in a well-lighted station may be able to prevent infiltration, but a "monitor" miles away can only sit by helplessly and watch (if they can see in the dark that is -- will PATH use a room full of cats as security?) until a live body arrives onsite.  How reassuring!

The only assurance here is that when their mouth is moving, PATH is lying.

Last week, Doug Kaplan of Sugarloaf Conservancy debated Russell Frisby before the Frederick Rotary Club.  Here's a link to the story in the Frederick News Post.

In this incarnation, Frisby claims to be a spokesman for the PATH Education Awareness Team.  However, Frisby has also claimed to be the spokesman for Marylanders for Reliable Power (part of the ratepayer-financed astroturf front group network created by Charles Ryan Associates for PATH).  Marylanders for Reliable Power claims not to be advocating for any particular transmission project, but yet their spokesman also moonlights for the PATH Education and Awareness Team.  Could it be that his confusion about exactly who he works for stems from the fact that his pay from both groups arrives in the same check from Charles Ryan Associates, PATH's overpaid PR company ($3.1 million dollars in 2009)?  And where does PATH get its money?  From you, electric ratepayer, from you, every month when you pay your electric bill.

Frisby is confused about a whole lot more than who he works for though.  First, Frisby gets the cost of the PATH project wrong -- Didn't Charles Ryan Associates brief him on the recent increase in project cost to $2.1 billion?   (Which is a fairy tale unto itself, but not a subject for today.)

"It's not just for New Jersey", said Frisby, noting that "others" had made that statement.  No, Russell, it's also for New York and other points far east and north of here, it's just not for us.

Next, "Frisby said the need for PATH is well-documented. Electricity use is up 16 percent in the region from last summer."  Wow, who spun that for you, Russell?  Here's the truth about that "16 percent increase".  I guess Russell doesn't get out much in the summertime if he didn't notice that this summer was much hotter than last.

"Putting the lines underground, if feasible, would double or triple the cost of the project"  What does PATH care about cost?  The ratepayers are footing the bill!  And if there really was some concern about cost, how did Russell answer this?  "Wayne Six, a Rotary Club member, questioned why the utility company would pay $6 million for a farm, where the substation will be located, valued at only $1.5 million."  I don't see that Frisby even answered that question.

How about, "eminent domain -- the taking of private property for the project -- would be a last resort."  So, what Russell's really saying here is "give up your property voluntarily or we're going to take it from you".  Where's any choice for affected landowners?  How does Russell's statement make this any easier to swallow for property owners?  How many times has Russell had his own property taken by eminent domain?  I would hazard a guess that says NONE.

This one is pretty funny:

"Kaplan, using PowerPoint maps, showed where wind power equipment could be located off the Atlantic Coast.

"And how do you get that wind power to where it needs to go? Transmission lines," Frisby countered."

Russell, Russell, Russell, PATH is in the wrong location to transport off-shore wind power to where it's needed.  Mt. Airy, Maryland, (PATH's terminus) is nowhere near the coast, and even if another transmission line were created to link Mt. Airy with the eastern shore, the other end of the PATH line is located near Charleston, WV,  a state that already exports 70% of the power it produces.  The east coast cities are the ones who need this wind power, and it's right there for them.  A transmission line between western Maryland and West Virginia would be about as useful as a screen door on a submarine for transporting off-shore wind power.

Finally, "Frisby said berms and trees would be used to alleviate the visual impact of the substation. He said if homeowners felt they should be compensated, they could take legal action."  Frisby forgot to add, "at their own expense".  Gosh, what a comfort, Russell!  Does this have anything to do with making money at your third job?

On the other side of the coin, Doug Kaplan's comments were factual and sensible.  I call this one for Kaplan!

I think PATH's propaganda machine is also a remnant of the disco-era.  Are the Charles Ryan Associates guys really sitting around in powder blue leisure suits as one of our readers recently posited?

As a precursor to their recently released "disco-era grid" campaign, someone had the bright idea to pave the way with Letters to the Editor from their astro-turf spokesmodel.  (Don't even get me started on the "quality" of this video!)  As usual, West Virginians for Reliable Power or Energy or whatever name we're "just using" this week harvests select facts from their source reference in order to make it look like "experts agree".  Looks like they didn't bother to read the Journal's letters policy before submitting and were abruptly cut off at the end of Vineyard's diatribe, which really makes her look like an idiot (not that it appears she needed much help in the first place).  Fear mongering, it's what's for dinner!

StopPATH WV member Steven Smith wrote and submitted this Letter to the Editor at the end of August, well before PATH's new ad campaign started.  Because of the Journal's lag-time in publishing (approximately 10 days to 2 weeks) it finally showed up today.  Looks like Smith had PATH's "disco-era grid" dis-information campaign slayed before it even drew breath.

StopPATH WV - quicker, smarter and now... with psychic powers too!  Put that in your leisure suit and dance!

My friend,  Esther, recently sent me a link to a 2009 interview with AEP CEO Michael Morris entitled, "You have to tell people the truth".  I think Morris wouldn't know truth if it snuck up and bit him on the rear end, but I found it quite interesting nonetheless.  You can watch the video of the interview (you have to join to see full version, but it's free) or read a summary.  In the interview, Morris states that demand forecasts are often wrong (really?  you mean like PATH's fictional "need"?)  He also runs on and on about how transmission should be regulated at the federal level.  It is essential that the allocation of cost be spread to all ratepayers because the "benefit" of an interstate electric transmission grid will inure to everyone who lives in this country (rah, rah, wave your flag!)  If transmission were under federal control, you would see a "tremendous amount" of transmission capacity added to the system. Sure you would -- AEP and other energy companies would be lining up to build new transmission at no cost to themselves and rake in a hefty return on equity, exactly the motivation behind PATH.  Beware of what he's saying here -- AEP has plans to circumvent state-held control of transmission decisions and have the cost of building his "national grid" paid for at your expense. This bears watching.

But here's where it gets really interesting -- Morris starts talking about "NIMBYs" and the "inertia in this country" that causes people to say "nothing in my backyard" when they flip on the light switch.  So, Mikey, what's in YOUR backyard?  Swimming pool?  Tennis court?  Stable of expensive foreign sports cars?  Until you're willing to trade backyards with a few friends of mine, shut your pie hole! It's really easy to call names and pontificate when it doesn't affect you, isn't it?  He goes on to say that "the American people are equally bright (reference to earlier comment about AEP employees being bright) and all you have to do is tell people the truth".  In that case, we've been doing your job for you for the past two years -- telling the American people the truth, and they get it.  Oh boy, do they get it!  They all know that PATH is a greedy scam.

And, what about Allegheny Energy's take on "NIMBYs, BANANAs and NOPEs"?  First, I just have to get this out of my system -- QUIT ABUSING THE APOSTROPHE!  An apostrophe is used to show possession or to take the place of missing letters in a contraction.  It is NOT used to indicate a plural noun.  Okay, now back to the show...

Aldie Warnock of Allegheny Energy actually embarrassed himself giving this inspid presentation at a NARUC meeting.  He listed the following "problems" with transmission expansion:  NIMBY's, BANANA's, NOPE's (yes, I'm shuddering), Viewsheds, Federal Lands, Heritage Zones and Conservation Easements.  I've got one more for ya -- LACK OF NEED!  He then goes into the problems they encountered with the TrAIL line.  Pay particular attention to slide 18, TrAIL Timeline, "November ELECTIONS!", this will come into play later in this post. He details his "Public Opinion Findings" that just make me laugh!  How out-of-touch with the actual public is this guy?  Most of these are the absolute truth and can't be fixed, except for the last two:  "Third party validation can impact the business communities views" (shudder again) and "Residents listen to their local business and industry". Aldie, nobody believes anything FERC, DOE, and especially PJM, say anymore -- they've cried wolf regarding the need for PATH a few too many times to retain any credibility. As far as residents listening to local business and industry -- nobody believes them either, and because they're local we already know their reputation and word travels fast when power company-funded front groups are mixed into the equation. Bad idea!

He finishes up with the "Lesson's Learned" (shudder), but it's readily apparent that Allegheny Energy hasn't learned these lessons at all!  "Education, Education, Education, Early and Often!"  The ship has already sailed on this one, and PATH wasn't on it.   Oops!  Beat to the punch by the opposition!  "Very clear and concise messaging"  Ship.   Sailed.  The minute you hired Charles Ryan Associates. "Tours for Media and Public Officials" -- we all know how great that one worked out, don't we?  Can you say public relations disaster?  "Third Party Validators" -- great idea, if you had any real friends at all and didn't have to pay them to pimp your project.  "Companies need ALLIES".  See answer to last bright idea.

If you thought that was pathetic, Holly Kauffman of Allegheny Energy revamped the presentation (and cleaned up some, but not all, of the apostrophe abuse) and presented it again at an EEI meeting.  Holly adds "WIFM (What's in it for me?)" to the list of "problems".  Great -- but you don't have anything to offer.  Anything at all.  She also adds two slides entitled "Public Concerns" and offers this unintelligible gem, "Can't see electric when line is overloaded".  ???  If you think that's bad, she also offers some information that is JUST PLAIN WRONG, such as: "Lack of Understanding of the Legal Process".  Apparently she must have been referring to herself because under this heading we find, "Right to access properties to do studies necessary for CPCN and permits".  PATH has no such right!  Do you suppose this is where Louis Berger Group got their instructions?

Read her rendition of "Opposition Topics".  Holly's confusion intensifies here because some of these are actually power company strategies, such as:  the entire concept of fearmongering, among which she details "Federal Government will over rule State's Authority" (how many times have they played the FERC card in the PATH case?); "Fear of neighbor retaliation if ROW is signed" (they put this idea in landowners' heads to coerce them to sign); and the best one, "Put public officials on the spot before elections" (remember Aldie's TrAIL Timeline?)  The last one is a real screamer, "Not held accountable like utility to be factual in statements".  Oh, boy, if someone is holding the utility accountable for their lies, there's a HUGE debt waiting to be paid!  The rest of these topics are true... does the truth hurt so much that you need to try to garner sympathy by mentioning them?

See slide entitled "Other CPCN Hearing issues".  Holly continues to whine about landowners not allowing them to do their surveys before having a permit in their hand; and "Agreements reached between parties in case were viewed cynically because negotiations are confidential".  No, Holly, they were viewed cynically because the PSC staff recommended that TrAIL's permit be denied and Governor Manchin's interference with "closed door" meetings is what got you your permit.  It was crooked and illegal, you twit!

It's time to write a new chapter in their book of strategy. They're being soundly pummeled by the opposition on all fronts.  Must be because their strategy sucks.  After PATH is defeated, maybe I'll let them know exactly what went wrong.  Or maybe I'll just pack up my bag 'o tricks and move on to their next project ;-)


Addendum:  For more about how FERC, power company, coal company and political players arrogantly conspire against us "little people", visit Calhoun Powerline for quotes from the 2005 Charleston Love Fest, such as Chairman Wood of FERC who said, “[I] hope we don’t have that transmission project become common dinner table talk for the average citizen before we actually take care of it.”

I hear that PATH has begun their new advertising campaign, and like the greatest of straight men Charles Ryan Associates has set us up with the perfect punchline. Blah, blah, blah, old, decrepit grid, blah, blah, failing grid, blah, blah, blah *insert fear mongering here* To keep moving power forward!  Took about 1.5 seconds to tag the end of it ...to New Jersey!  And I'm not the only one who thought of it, so there ya go, another joke of an advertising campaign that's costing the ratepayers thousands, if not millions.

I haven't seen or heard the commercials, but those who have report that it has something to do with the grid being on the verge of failure.

Absolutely not true, but if it were, why would that be? Because companies like Allegheny Energy and American Electric Power don't want to "waste" money on things like maintaining and modernizing what they already have. There's no profit in that for them. Instead, they want to build a brand new transmission line and rake in 14.3%. This would be like buying a new car every time you needed an oil change.  Is that the financially smart thing to do? Only if someone else is paying for the new car, and that's precisely what's happening here.  The ratepayers in the 13-state PJM region are paying the cost of constructing PATH and the power companies bank a sweet amount of profit.

So, what happens to all those "old, decrepit, failing" transmission lines?  Unfortunately, those "old, decrepit, failing" transmission lines are what keep the power on in West Virginia, but we don't matter.  Classic, isn't it?  West Virginia is expected to bend over again and again and "sacrifice" for the good of the bastions of urban sagacity on the east coast.  Others are driving the shiny, new car we pay for, and we're left to make due with a beat-up, old, pick'em up truck that runs on two cylinders.

Fortunately, it doesn't have to be this way.  Dominion Virginia Power has proposed an alternative to PATH that will modernize existing transmission lines.

Gather 'round kiddies, it's story time!

PATH counsel has filed the description of the current state of the PATH project in Maryland and Virginia, as ordered by the WV PSC last week.

I'm really surprised the first four words weren't "Once upon a time," because it reads more like a fairy tale than a factual description of case status.

Here's how often wishy-washy weasel words were used:

expect - six times
assume - twice
believe - twice
anticipates - four times
intend - once
potential - once

There are very few facts, just wishes.  Let's help them out.

Maryland hasn't set a procedural schedule yet.  There is a pre-hearing conference scheduled for September 28. PATH has no idea what will happen afterward.

They haven't filed an application in Virginia yet.

They have no idea what the procedural schedules will be in either state, therefore, they don't know if they will be aligned.

See how easy that was?  Facts -- short and sweet.

So why should West Virginia continue with this case right now?  Not to "align the procedural schedules in all three states", that's for sure.  Are counsel for PATH trying to mock the WV-PSC?  If the Commission believes PATH's wish list provides any assurance that the case will move forward with no further delays, then I'm 5'8" and blonde.