StopPATH WV

While spending a week with other organizations and vendors in the Jefferson County Fair's "tent alley", you get to know your neighbors.  Great for conversation during slow times, borrowing and trading supplies and tools, and getting information about items of interest.


Today, I was sent a copy of an article posted on Jefferson County's Listener web group by fellow fair booth resident Ed Dunleavy that's worth sharing.  Thanks for the kind words of support, Ed!


After accumulating information during the last several years regarding the Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH), I attended several informational meetings recently. As many County residents know, PJM, a regional electric transmission operator, created the PATH project and designed it to supply electricity to the NY- NJ market from coal-fired generating plants in the Ohio Valley. After researching this project, I've reached the opinion that the proponents of PATH should be embarrassed by this project. It is travesty being foisted upon the residents of Jefferson County solely to satisfy their corporate greed. 

The economic rationale for PATH is that east coast residents will pay higher rates for the electricity of Allegheny Energy and American Electric Power, two of the partners in PATH. However, the cost of PATH, which is estimated to be $2.1 billion will be paid for by ratepayers in 13 states including West Virginia, while none of the electricity will be delivered to WV ratepayers. 

The proposed route for the PATH transmission line has been changed three times and may be changed again; so if you haven't been interested in this project; watch out - because it could pass by your home eventually. Its present proposed route will deface and despoil the County's landscape and many of its historical sites and homes. 

In my opinion, PATH is a pending disaster for the residents of Jefferson County. Luckily, a coalition of Jefferson County landowners formed StopPATH WV, Inc. to intervene before the WV Public Service Commission. This group of citizens should be congratulated for their tireless dedication to both keeping the public informed and continuing the effort to stop PATH. Last week, I spoke with a number of this organization's members at the Jefferson County Fair. I urge all Jefferson County residents to visit their website at: www.stoppathwv.com. The website provides information needed to understand PATH and its potential to ruin the County's landscape. I also urge County residents to join in the effort to stop PATH, sign their petition, and donate to the cause.

Ed Dunleavy
Independent Candidate for
Jefferson County Commission
www.Dunleavy4CC.com 

From our friends in Maryland, check out this post on the Maryland Energy Report blog.  You will most likely end up questioning why PATH has gotten in bed with such a crooked, inept company who is riding the taxpayer (and electric ratepayer!) gravy train for all it's worth.


Birds of a feather?

According to an article in today's Charleston Daily Mail, current West Virginia Governor and wanna-be Senator Joe Manchin has amassed quite the campaign war chest.  FEC filings reveal that Manchin's biggest financiers are energy companies and coal companies.  That's really no surprise to anyone, is it?  Joe's been owned for years.  Guess which energy companies' PAC, executives, their spouses and relatives and legal counsel are trying to buy Joe's seat? American Electric Power, First Energy and Jackson Kelly. Wow, what a shocker, right?

Check out the individual donor names here.  I see a few names I recognize.... Anthony Alexander, CEO of First Energy (soon to merge with Allegheny Energy) makes Senator-buying into a wholesome family event -- isn't that so "Father Knows Best"?  How about Christopher Callas of Jackson Kelly (PATH counsel)?  Or maybe Mark Dempsey of AEP?

Isn't this going to be fun to research?

If I had so much personal wealth that I could afford to toss thousands at a political campaign, I think I'd rather have something sportier that could go from zero to 60 in less than 6 seconds, instead of an easily bought politician who's getting a bit nappy around the edges, but that's just my personal preference.  Unless.... you don't think it's not really their personal money being donated to Manchin, do you?

We've heard that PATH land agents will be making a big push in Jefferson County in the next month or so to coerce more landowners into signing option or purchase agreements for their properties.


PATH land agents are trained professionals who will attempt to manipulate landowners into signing agreements that are not in their best interests.


Get the information you will need to be the one in control of negotiations with your particular PATH land agent by attending upcoming meetings.  See article in today's Journal about the first meeting and more details here and here.

There's a bit of a PATH debate going on in The Journal's Letters to the Editor section recently, and it's not over yet because I happen to know there are several more in the queue, so we might as well get started and add the additional ones as they are published.

First, Harley Potter of Kearneysville lights the match (and yes, I've heard all the Potter/Allegheny Power connection stories, but I'm going to ignore them).

August 5 - Keryn Newman responds

August 6 - Sharon Wilson responds

August 18 - Joe Migliorise responds


August 19 - Roger Eitelman responds

Thank you, Mr. Potter, for bringing out your soapbox and allowing us all to have a turn standing on it.

Dick Ishler, President of CAKES (Citizens Against Kemptown Electric Substation) and Nick Carrera, Treasurer of Sugarloaf Conservancy will be on WFMD AM 930 tomorrow, July 31, at 9:00 a.m. to talk about PATH. Tune in!

Story in today's Journal about Jefferson County Commission candidate Ed Dunleavy.  Dunleavy says about PATH, "I think with the whole idea of PATH, the people promoting it ought to be embarrassed..."  One of my most favorite quotes yet, but I don't think it quite beats out my absolute favorite to date, which came from Commissioner Dale Manuel last year.  "I think for those reasons, the best path to take with PATH is, it should be put in the garbage can."  And while we're on the subject of great PATH quotes from local electeds, here's another contender from last May where Commissioner Jim Surkamp refers to Keryn Newman and Patience Wait as "Allegheny's worst nightmare" during a Commission meeting.  What's your favorite?

We love our County Commission and our Journal reporters!

For your convenience, here's a list of newslinks from the EIS Scoping Meetings:

TV3 Winchester
Leesburg Today
Loudoun Times-Mirror
Frederick News Post
Spirit of Jefferson

We will add to this list as we get them, so keep checking back.  If you have an addition to the list that we've missed, leave it in comments or email to keryn@stoppathwv.com

Article in July 14th Journal regarding Allegheny's 2010 Annual Update Meeting and the upcoming EIS Scoping Meetings.  Please plan to attend at least one of the Scoping meetings.  These are your parks, folks!

For those looking for a summary of yesterday's 2010 Annual Update meeting, check back later today.  Briefly, I can say it was very enlightening!  I've got a series of meetings scheduled today, but hope to have something up by the end of the day.

Article in today's Journal.


New reporter Matt Armstrong does a great job!  Join us in welcoming him to Charles Town and The Journal.