What is PATH?
A joint venture of Allegheny Energy and American Electric Power to build a new interstate high-voltage transmission line called the Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline or PATH.
PATH is a single 765 kilo-volt transmission line from St. Albans, WV to Kemptown, MD. Tower heights will be approximately 180 feet and right-of-ways will be 200 feet wide. Some proposed routes follow existing power line right-of-ways, some are creating new right-of-ways in areas that do not currently have power lines, and some are proposing a second right-of-way running parallel to existing power lines. These will be very large transmission lines, completely dwarfing most of the ones we currently have in our area. PATH is intended to transport electricity from coal-fired power plants in the Ohio Valley to the Eastern seaboard metropolises. There will be no local benefit.
PATH has filed for approval of their selected routes with the West Virginia Public Service Commission on May 15, 2009. The approval process is currently tolled (on hold) at the moment and is expected to resume in June 2010. A decision on the permit is expected in February, 2011.
The transmission lines will run through 14 counties in West Virginia, including Jefferson. PATH will also cross 3 counties in Virginia and one in Maryland. At this time, PATH’s proposed route would run through or nearby numerous subdivisions, farms, parks, businesses, schools and historic sites. Properties in the way of proposed routes will be purchased by PATH and either demolished or resold.
The project’s estimated cost of $1.8 billion has a return on equity to Allegheny Energy and American Electric Power of 14.3% guaranteed by FERC. Cost to construct these lines will be borne by electric customers in the thirteen-state PJM region, which includes West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland. With construction costs coming out of consumers’ pockets (including yours), the electric companies can’t lose and will make a huge profit selling cheap, coal-fired electricity to eastern cities.
How will this affect you?
Environmental Effects:
Noise and disturbance during construction of PATH.
Electrical interference with appliances near the line.
To view a map of PATH's proposed route through Jefferson County, visit the county's website http://www.jeffersoncountywv.org/ProposedPath_June2009_15x36__.pdf
PATH is a single 765 kilo-volt transmission line from St. Albans, WV to Kemptown, MD. Tower heights will be approximately 180 feet and right-of-ways will be 200 feet wide. Some proposed routes follow existing power line right-of-ways, some are creating new right-of-ways in areas that do not currently have power lines, and some are proposing a second right-of-way running parallel to existing power lines. These will be very large transmission lines, completely dwarfing most of the ones we currently have in our area. PATH is intended to transport electricity from coal-fired power plants in the Ohio Valley to the Eastern seaboard metropolises. There will be no local benefit.
PATH has filed for approval of their selected routes with the West Virginia Public Service Commission on May 15, 2009. The approval process is currently tolled (on hold) at the moment and is expected to resume in June 2010. A decision on the permit is expected in February, 2011.
The transmission lines will run through 14 counties in West Virginia, including Jefferson. PATH will also cross 3 counties in Virginia and one in Maryland. At this time, PATH’s proposed route would run through or nearby numerous subdivisions, farms, parks, businesses, schools and historic sites. Properties in the way of proposed routes will be purchased by PATH and either demolished or resold.
The project’s estimated cost of $1.8 billion has a return on equity to Allegheny Energy and American Electric Power of 14.3% guaranteed by FERC. Cost to construct these lines will be borne by electric customers in the thirteen-state PJM region, which includes West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland. With construction costs coming out of consumers’ pockets (including yours), the electric companies can’t lose and will make a huge profit selling cheap, coal-fired electricity to eastern cities.
How will this affect you?
Environmental Effects:
- Clear-cutting of new or expanded rights-of-way and use of herbicides to retard growth of vegetation. Herbicides could affect water quality in streams and wells forever.
- New or increased electro-magnetic fields from the transmission lines and their possible effect on the health and well being of people living in close proximity.
- Loss of wildlife habitat.
- Loss of prime farmland, soil erosion, stream sedimentation, lost recreational value of undeveloped land and aesthetic impacts and loss of scenic values forever.
- Homes along proposed routes could be in jeopardy of being bought by PATH, whether voluntarily or through eminent domain.
- Subdivisions will be dissected by PATH, wiping out portions of the community and lowering property values for homes left in these decimated subdivisions.
- Electric transmission lines on, adjacent to, or visible from properties can decrease their value up to 53%
Noise and disturbance during construction of PATH.
Electrical interference with appliances near the line.
To view a map of PATH's proposed route through Jefferson County, visit the county's website http://www.jeffersoncountywv.org/ProposedPath_June2009_15x36__.pdf
Landowner Resources
Are you in the path of PATH and/or have you been contacted by land agents?
PATH has not yet been approved by the West Virginia Public Service Commission and has not been granted permission to take land by eniment domain. Why the rush to acquire property, easements or survey rights? Tell them to come back when the have a permit in their hand. Be wary of entering into deals with PATH at today's low real estate prices when it may be years before any actual construction begins (if ever!) PATH is not a certainty!
Taking property through condemnation and eminent domain is a long, complicated court process that PATH does not want to engage in. There is no chance that they will "take" your property and you will get nothing. Any offer is never their "final offer", the offers will continue (and increase) the closer your case gets to trial. PATH will go to almost any length to avoid the court process. Be a holdout!
Do not be pressured by slick land agent tactics designed to separate you from your land as cheaply and with as little fuss (for them) as possible. As part of their application to the Public Service Commission, PATH has set a code of conduct for land agents, which was a result of their shameful behavior in the TrAIL powerline case. You can download a copy here http://stoppathwv.com/wordpress/PATH_Code_of_Conduct1.pdf If a PATH land agent violates the code of conduct, you should file a complaint with the Public Service Commission. Contact us if you would like assistance and/or support with land agent issues.
Do not sign any agreements with PATH land agents without consulting an attorney of your own choosing (do not use an PATH-provided attorney). Protect your rights!
Here's an example of how a Thornton, WV couple were treated by land agents for the TrAIL power line. Can we expect to be treated any differently by the PATH companies? http://www.psc.state.wv.us/scripts/WebDocket/ViewDocument.cfm?CaseActivityID=291182&NotType='WebDocket'weeblylink_new_window
PATH has not yet been approved by the West Virginia Public Service Commission and has not been granted permission to take land by eniment domain. Why the rush to acquire property, easements or survey rights? Tell them to come back when the have a permit in their hand. Be wary of entering into deals with PATH at today's low real estate prices when it may be years before any actual construction begins (if ever!) PATH is not a certainty!
Taking property through condemnation and eminent domain is a long, complicated court process that PATH does not want to engage in. There is no chance that they will "take" your property and you will get nothing. Any offer is never their "final offer", the offers will continue (and increase) the closer your case gets to trial. PATH will go to almost any length to avoid the court process. Be a holdout!
Do not be pressured by slick land agent tactics designed to separate you from your land as cheaply and with as little fuss (for them) as possible. As part of their application to the Public Service Commission, PATH has set a code of conduct for land agents, which was a result of their shameful behavior in the TrAIL powerline case. You can download a copy here http://stoppathwv.com/wordpress/PATH_Code_of_Conduct1.pdf If a PATH land agent violates the code of conduct, you should file a complaint with the Public Service Commission. Contact us if you would like assistance and/or support with land agent issues.
Do not sign any agreements with PATH land agents without consulting an attorney of your own choosing (do not use an PATH-provided attorney). Protect your rights!
Here's an example of how a Thornton, WV couple were treated by land agents for the TrAIL power line. Can we expect to be treated any differently by the PATH companies? http://www.psc.state.wv.us/scripts/WebDocket/ViewDocument.cfm?CaseActivityID=291182&NotType='WebDocket'weeblylink_new_window
Result of power line survey
PATH has also been trying to acquire survey rights from property owners along its route. They are offering no monetary compensation for these rights. PATH's definition of "survey" will most likely not coincide with yours. While conducting their survey, PATH may clearcut, bring in heavy equipment (and build access roads to do so) and drill core samples. This "survey" may be highly destructive to your property and leave it looking like a war zone afterwards. This photo shows what happened to a property whose owner signed a survey agreement for the TrAIL power line. You do not have to allow PATH to survey your property no matter how much they pressure you -- tell them to go away until they have their permit, which cannot happen before February 24, 2011, or to bring you a court order allowing them access to your property.
If you have already signed a survey agreement and want to change your mind, it's not too late to rescind your agreement, according to Bill Howley of The Powerline. See his post about rescinding survey agreements here http://calhounpowerline.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/wv-land-owners-rescinding-survey-agreements/
If you have already signed a survey agreement and want to change your mind, it's not too late to rescind your agreement, according to Bill Howley of The Powerline. See his post about rescinding survey agreements here http://calhounpowerline.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/wv-land-owners-rescinding-survey-agreements/