We have moved! StopPATH WV has switched to a new website, available at www.stoppathwv.com. Please change your old bookmarks to reflect our new address.  Thank you for visiting.

PATH filed an amended motion in Virginia today asking that it be allowed to withdraw its application. PATH has acknowledged that PJM (the regional organization that blesses all such projects) has started making new need forecasts based on better information, and has already concluded that PATH will NOT be needed in 2014!

Here’s a link to the amended motion, so you can read it for yourselves:
http://calhounpowerline.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/pathamendmotionwithdraw.pdf

The SCC hearing examiner is held oral arguments on Dec. 30 and expects to make his recommendation (on whether or not the Commission should allow PATH to withdraw and how) in early January. A decision from the full Commission would follow soon after.

What does this mean for PATH in West Virginia?

IF Virginia either dismisses the application or allows PATH to withdraw it, then one would think the WV application would have to be withdrawn, too. After all, in the current design there’s no way to get from West Virginia to Maryland without crossing Virginia. And if they try to reconfigure the route to avoid Virginia, (a) they might very well have to file a new application anyhow, since it would be such a significant change, and (b) they’d have a VERY hard time arguing the project is needed in these two states when they already acknowledged in Virginia that it’s not needed. But stranger things have happened …

Anyhow, it’s very possible that we’ll know the Virginia SCC’s decision in the next few days. Don’t know if we can find out before New Year’s Day, but perhaps early next week.

Keep your fingers crossed and your prayers flowing!

The Harpers Ferry Christmas parade on December 12 was a great success!  See details and our pictures at the link below (if the real link doesn’t show, Firefox users can click on the title above to open the post. Explorer is temporarily not opening this post, so please copy the link).
http://www.stoppathwv.com/stoppathwvparade.htm

Full document available at

http://www.psc.state.wv.us/scripts/WebDocket/ViewDocument.cfm?CaseActivityID=284318&NotType=%27servicelist%27&CaseServiceListID=26782

November 24, 2009 PSC Orders:

1) Motions to dismiss this proceeding are denied.

2) The Applicants revised proposal to toll is granted.

The statutory due date in this matter is tolled until Thursday, February 24,201 1.

3) A new procedural schedule is established - see below.

4) Applicants must notify the Commission within five days of the date of this Order if they disagree that their proposal to delay a decision in this case by tolling the West Virginia statutory suspension period is also an agreement by the Applicants that they will not avail themselves of the Federal permitting process pursuant to §216(b) of the Federal Power Act of 2005.

Commission will adopt the following schedule for use in this case (dates are shown below each event).

Discovery reopens on issues of electrical need:

Monday, February 1, 2010

Applicants file supplemental testimony on issue of electrical need and any other issues requiring supplementation:

Noon, Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Deadline for propounding discovery on supplemental testimony due June 29, 2010:

Noon, Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Staffs and Intervenors’ prepared direct testimony and rebuttal to the direct testimony of Applicants:

Noon, Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Deadline for propounding discovery in response to testimony due August 31, 2010:

Noon, Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Applicants’ rebuttal testimony to the direct testimony for Staff and Intervenors, and Staff and Intervenor rebuttal testimony to the direct testimony of one another:

Noon, Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Deadline for propounding discovery in response to the rebuttal testimony due September 28, 2010:

Noon, Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Written opening statements:

Noon, Thursday, October 14, 2010

Evidentiary hearing begins:

Monday, October 18, 2010

Evidentiary hearing ends:

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Initial briefs and proposed orders:

Noon, Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Reply briefs:

Noon, Thursday, December 16, 2010

Deadline for Commission decision:

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Virginia’s State Corporation Commission will convene a second public hearing on PATH in Lovettsville, on the evening of Nov. 19, 2009. Intervenors in the WV case, who were not allowed to speak at the WV PSC hearings, are able to speak in VA.

Get your statements ready!

Hearing begins at 7 p.m. in the Lovettsville Community Center, 57 E. Broad Way. Any person wishing to testify at the hearing should arrive early and notify the SCC bailiff. Public witnesses are sworn in and are subject to cross-examination. 
http://www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=1622#path

PATH Information open meeting

Sun, 9/20, 3 pm. Sam Michael’s Park, 1516 Job Corps Rd, Shenandoah Junction, WV.  There will be signs and people to direct you. This will help you prepare for the PSC hearings, or just learn about PATH.

PSC Public Hearings - Your only chance to be heard.

Tues 9/22 12:30 pm and 6:30 pm
Wed. 9/23 8:30 am

Shepherd University Frank Arts Center on the West campus.

Intervenors are not allowed to speak at this meeting because they are parties in the case.  Intervenors are encouraged to attend to help other participants and show support. Bring some friends!

To contribute your opinions:
_Prepare a written statement of everything you want to say.
_ You will be given only a few minutes to testify orally, so bring written materials and ask that it be included in the record of your testimony.
_ These hearings will be your only chance to let the Public Service Commission know how you feel. Don’t miss this opportunity to STOP PATH!!

Email: info@stoppathwv.com for directions/information

Maryland PSC announced on September 9 that it would not approve PATH’s application because PATH isn’t an “electric company.”

Full text at http://www.wvpubcast.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=11221

PSC Public Comment Hearings are scheduled for:

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

and Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, 8:30 a.m.

Shepherd University, Frank Arts Center

260 University Drive,

Shepherdstown, WV

——————————–

Monday, Sept. 28, 12:30 pm and 6:30 pm

Days Hotel and Conference Center in Flatwoods

2000 Sutton Lane, 1-79, Exit 67

Sutton, WV

——————————–

Friday, Oct. 2, 12:30 pm and 6:30 pm

Culture Center State Theater, Plaza Level of the

State Capitol Complex,

1900 Kanawha Blvd E

Charleston, WV

——————————–

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 12:30 pm and 6:30 pm

Canaan Valley Resort & Conference Center,

Route 32 N

Canaan Valley State Park

Davis, WV

——————————–

Thursday, Oct. 22, 12:30 pm and 6:30 pm

West Virginia Wesleyan College, Campus Center

59 College Avenue

Buckhannon, WV

A copy of the petition is available for downloading.
It will open as a Word document

Click on the file name:  petition-path
If there is no link, copy and paste this address:
http://stoppathwv.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/petition-path.doc

Welcome to our web site. We have just begun filling it with valuable information about the PATH project. See the Resource Links for more anti-PATH web sites and other resources. If you have a suggestion for content, or a question about posted information, please send us an email or post a message in the forum.   Email:  information@stoppathwv.com

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