A few of us attended Dominion Power's Open House on their Mt. Storm-Doubs rebuild last night in Winchester. Overall, it was a pleasant experience, certainly nothing like one of PATH's charlie foxtrot "public meetings". There were no "raised voices" or commotion, at least while I was there, although I hear that one arrogant, little weasel got knocked down a peg or two after I left. He deserved it though -- I walked away from him after about 30 seconds because his "issues" were readily apparent and I wasn't looking to get into an argument.
Here's some of the stuff we found out last night:
1. The rebuild will reduce EMF approximately 10 - 12%, and that's only due to the towers being higher. Let's do the math - 10% of 292 mG is 29.2, leaving the EMF level at 263 mG. That's not much of an improvement, is it? Dominion has the same, stupid, industry line about how EMF is not harmful. Now you know why the arrogant "little man" got taken to task.
2. Dominion says that their PATH alternatives are still being considered by PJM, and this rebuild is certainly featured in all the alternatives. However, Dominion took an official hardline position last night that this rebuild is being ordered by PJM because of structural issues with the current towers and has nothing to do with PATH. PJM is everyone's favorite scapegoat!
3. Dominion's "Alternative Number 1" (see link in #2 above) also contains a proposal to rebuild the Mt. Storm-Pruntytown line, however this line is owned by Allegheny Energy. The last two miles or so of the Mt. Storm-Doubs line are also owned by Allegheny Energy. Dominion has no idea what Allegheny is doing regarding rebuilding on their sections... which I read to mean they are doing nothing. Hoping these cheap, easy alternatives to PATH will go away so they can concentrate on their PATH project and it's 14.3% profit instead? Guess they'd better put their pointed, little PR brains together and come up with a good excuse for that!
4. Dominion doesn't have much information about what PATH is proposing to do with sections of rebuild of the Mt. Storm-Doubs line in Jefferson County. They are under the impression that the location of their current ROW won't change and therefore will proceed with the rebuild without enlarging or changing their current ROW. However, PATH has other plans for moving the Mt. Storm-Doubs line, hence the necessity of the rebuild sections in PATH's plan. Funny looks on the Dominion engineers faces when they finally "got it" that they may be forced into the position of acquiring new ROWs. Then they decided that they will just proceed with the rebuild on their current ROW, even if that means that PATH will come along in a year or so and tear down their brand new towers and shift the line onto new ROW. Is that your wallet I hear screaming? Why on earth would we be forced to pay for the tear-down and rebuild of a brand new section of line so PATH can construct their monstrosity? Also, why on earth should property owners be forced to endure TWO tear-downs, rebuilds on these two 2-mile sections of line in Jefferson County? Hello? Left Hand? I'd like to introduce you to Right Hand. Get your crap together here, guys!
5. Who's paying for this? We are, of course! Because the rebuild involves a line of 500kV, this project is paid for by all the ratepayers in the PJM region, just like PATH, except without that nifty 14.3% profit added on top like the cherry on a sundae.
6. Dominion does not need to go through the full-blown application process in WV as they do in VA. Something was filed with the WV-PSC in September or October and our PSC is considering the proposal. I haven't had time to look this up yet. Any takers? Let me know what you find.
I could go on and on here, but I won't. If you have specific questions, contact us. I urge you to come to the Open House tonight in Lovettsville if you're the least bit curious. I found most of the Dominion guys to be friendly and pleasant to talk with. Not a bad experience at all.
Here's some of the stuff we found out last night:
1. The rebuild will reduce EMF approximately 10 - 12%, and that's only due to the towers being higher. Let's do the math - 10% of 292 mG is 29.2, leaving the EMF level at 263 mG. That's not much of an improvement, is it? Dominion has the same, stupid, industry line about how EMF is not harmful. Now you know why the arrogant "little man" got taken to task.
2. Dominion says that their PATH alternatives are still being considered by PJM, and this rebuild is certainly featured in all the alternatives. However, Dominion took an official hardline position last night that this rebuild is being ordered by PJM because of structural issues with the current towers and has nothing to do with PATH. PJM is everyone's favorite scapegoat!
3. Dominion's "Alternative Number 1" (see link in #2 above) also contains a proposal to rebuild the Mt. Storm-Pruntytown line, however this line is owned by Allegheny Energy. The last two miles or so of the Mt. Storm-Doubs line are also owned by Allegheny Energy. Dominion has no idea what Allegheny is doing regarding rebuilding on their sections... which I read to mean they are doing nothing. Hoping these cheap, easy alternatives to PATH will go away so they can concentrate on their PATH project and it's 14.3% profit instead? Guess they'd better put their pointed, little PR brains together and come up with a good excuse for that!
4. Dominion doesn't have much information about what PATH is proposing to do with sections of rebuild of the Mt. Storm-Doubs line in Jefferson County. They are under the impression that the location of their current ROW won't change and therefore will proceed with the rebuild without enlarging or changing their current ROW. However, PATH has other plans for moving the Mt. Storm-Doubs line, hence the necessity of the rebuild sections in PATH's plan. Funny looks on the Dominion engineers faces when they finally "got it" that they may be forced into the position of acquiring new ROWs. Then they decided that they will just proceed with the rebuild on their current ROW, even if that means that PATH will come along in a year or so and tear down their brand new towers and shift the line onto new ROW. Is that your wallet I hear screaming? Why on earth would we be forced to pay for the tear-down and rebuild of a brand new section of line so PATH can construct their monstrosity? Also, why on earth should property owners be forced to endure TWO tear-downs, rebuilds on these two 2-mile sections of line in Jefferson County? Hello? Left Hand? I'd like to introduce you to Right Hand. Get your crap together here, guys!
5. Who's paying for this? We are, of course! Because the rebuild involves a line of 500kV, this project is paid for by all the ratepayers in the PJM region, just like PATH, except without that nifty 14.3% profit added on top like the cherry on a sundae.
6. Dominion does not need to go through the full-blown application process in WV as they do in VA. Something was filed with the WV-PSC in September or October and our PSC is considering the proposal. I haven't had time to look this up yet. Any takers? Let me know what you find.
I could go on and on here, but I won't. If you have specific questions, contact us. I urge you to come to the Open House tonight in Lovettsville if you're the least bit curious. I found most of the Dominion guys to be friendly and pleasant to talk with. Not a bad experience at all.
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