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Residents Decry Dominion Power Plan
By Greg L | 10 August 2007 | Prince William County | 34 Comments
One of the local political stories that I just haven’t had enough time to cover is Dominion Power’s attempt to construct a half-million volt power line through a portion of the Gainesville District in Prince William County as well as a number of other counties in Virginia. There have been a number of public hearings on this (the latest is reported in excellent detail here, which far surpasses the local media coverage) where citizens have universally decried this wanton attempt by Dominion Power to build transmission lines through Virginia in order to sell power in the Northeast corridor. Fortunately I’m not the only one paying attention to what’s happening in Prince William County.
Should the State Corporation Commission approve this project, we’re going to get these power lines. Fortunately, with the pressure from citizens and their elected officials universally opposing this project, I expect the application to be denied at which time this will move to the real battleground, which is federal. Dominion is expected to petition the federal government to declare Prince William County a “National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor”, which if granted, would allow Dominion Power to exercise eminent domain powers throughout the county for a duration that well exceeds the amount of time needed to construct these power lines.
In the federal arena, lobbyists have proportionally larger influence and those in New York City and New Jersey, which would be the ones to benefit from this decision, would come into the discussion. That will be the tougher fight, with dramatically higher stakes here in Prince William. While this hearing was very important, the big battle is yet to come.
The opinions expressed here are solely the views of the author, and not representative of the position of any organization, political party, doughnut shop, knitting guild, or waste recycling facility, but may be correctly attributed to the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. If anything in the above article has offended you, please click here to receive an immediate apology.
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Greg
Is there a link to see the plan for power lines. I have a friend in Gainesville who wants to know which areas would be affected
http://www.pwconserve.org/issues/landuseplanning/powerline/index.htm
To all Gainesville residents–FIGHT THIS!!
I have property in the Greenbrier-Snowshoe area of WV. Outside companies are about to put up wind turbines there. They will ruin WV in order to provide power to Ted Kennedy terrirory. Ted said “no” to wind turbines off the coast of Cape Cod but it’s OK for the peons of WV.
We wouldn’t need all this extra infrastructure if it weren’t for 20 million illegal aliens in the country.
Liz: I believe John Stirrup has a link to the plan on his website.
BTW, what’s ole Frank Wolf’s position on this issue? Has he got one or is he too busy looking out for the interests of the Lost Boys of Darfur?
I think Ted Kennedy is deathly afraid of the water these days! Typical New England Kennedy dynasty hypocrisy.
Even worse is the federal government’s pre-emption of states rights in establishing these national interest corridors where the feds totally trump state control.
Frank Wolf has been doing a great job fighting this, but is up against the power industry and their minions on Capitol Hill.
Here’s the Honorable Mr. Stirrup’s link on Tranmission lines.
http://www.gainesvillesupervisor.com/Transmission%20Lines.htm
It’s very informative. We must fight this.
“Wanton attempt”? It reads as though they will follow existing power corridors, but I’m having trouble figuring out exactly what the proposal entails other than increasing the capacity of the existing corridor. Alexandria had similar issues somewhere around 15 years ago where they tried to force Dominion (then VA Power, I believe) to eliminate overhead power lines over various concerns. Alexandria lost the battle.
Not to say I’m for or against it, because I don’t have all the information. But I’m a definite fan of capitalism and the possibility of increasing the amount of money that comes to the Old Dominion from up north.
Energy efficiency and conservation will carry the demand here in NoVa. 17% of all transmitted and distributed electricity is lost due to inefficient equipment. Dominion and other should upgrade their equipment. 40% of all electricity purchased by commercial customers is wasted and never used due to old inefficient equipment and poor design. The DOE is giving grant money to big business to upgrade lighting and industrial equipment and manufacturing designs.
The source of new electricity which is the cleanest, the cheapest and the most readily available, is not wind, thermal, wave, hydro nor solar. It is none other than energy efficiency and conservation measures.
The state of VA (SCC) needs allow the state’s power companies to be compensated the same amount per MW, whether electricity is generated by energy efficiency and conservation, or from traditional sources (coal-fired, gas or nuclear-generated).
Demand Response (dr), aka demand-side management (dsm) is an active response by participating volunteering businesses, large office owners, and gov’t. Load-management is a more passive measure performed by the power company with the assistance from volunteering residential and non-residential customers. Aside from that, switching to CFL lights, installing programmible hvac thermostats, and smart switches on your outdoor A/C units and hot-water heater, will not only reduce overall demand, it will reduce your own electricity bill as well as reduce the price per KWH the power company charges everyone.
Smart energy isn’t something liberal. Its just smart. Help the grid, help save other people’s property and property value. Act now and upgrade your appliances during the state of VA tax-free purchase program this coming fall on energy efficiency products, and contact your power provider to participate in a residential “Load Management” program.
“The source of new electricity which is the cleanest, the cheapest and the most readily available, is … energy efficiency and conservation measures.”
That’s like my wife thinking she made money by shopping during a sale! Conservation and efficiency are a source of SAVINGS, not a source of energy.
“…whether electricity is generated by energy efficiency and conservation, or from traditional sources…”
Again, Dan, saving and generating are not the same thing. I agree with your assessment of the importance of energy awareness, but that doesn’t translate “Energy efficiency and conservation will carry the demand here in NoVa” into a statement that makes sense. If you meant to say that a reduction of energy consumption DUE TO conservation (through improved efficiency and awareness) will provide for the future demand in NoVA, then that would be a debatable statement.
On a related infrastructure note, it could be argued that increased carpooling and use of freight trains would reduce the need for improving bridges around the country while also dramatically reducing pollution. I wouldn’t be one to make that argument, but my point is that infrastructure needs to be constantly maintained and upgraded. In the end, the question isn’t whether new power lines will go up — it’s just a question of what form the new power lines will take.
I think the Energy bill of 2005 has a provision that allows the power line operators to petition the WHite House directly if they do not get action or satisfaction from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. When they apply to FERC, they have to pay very large fees to underwrite the studies.
I don’t think conservation alone will reduce demand enough to avoid the need for power transmission lines. The cynic in me thinks that there is quite a bit of “NIMBY” involved.
Spikes in peak demand during the 20 hottest days of the summer are the main reason for increased generation and/or transmission. Secondly, you and I are already paying for the cost associated with lost and wasted electricity. Its all in the price per kwh we are charged collectively as a whole.
Energy efficiency and conservation (EEC) provides more use out of the same amount generation to supply peak demand and IS considered a source of electricity. But to do this costs money and we are not talking about you and your wife turning off unused lights. The cost associated with this should be similar to what a power company is compensated when they run new transmission for example.
The DOE, FERC, and the PJM as well as other RTOs and ISOs, considers this to be true as well. However, implementation and pricing are still being debated. Right now in the state of VA, EEC doesn’t compensate a power company similarly. If it did transmission wouldn’t be the first option for DVP as it is now. Currently, EEC makes our state energy monopolies less money.
However, in the state of California, which has probably the most problematic gird in the nation, EEC is recognized as a viable and worthy priority, it is now w/i it state law as the highest ranking source for new power. When increased supply is being requested by state electric providers, they, the state’s power companies, must seek MWs from EEC first before any other source (or successfully demonstrate its deficiency to the state public service commission.)
A play on words, perhaps, but harnessing and providing MWs which are normally lost due to inefficiency, waste, and lack of electricity demand management, is considered a source. My point is, it can be implemented more cheaply than any other source - and that saves you and I money. It is also environmentally the cleanest and has the least impact on property than any other. If you own affected land or are a property owner near the preferred route, it will save your property/value. If you are in favor of lowered fossil fuel consumption, then EEC is right up your alley. And no other source for new MWs can be implemented quicker. So if you are a NoVa resident or business owner, that’s reassuring.
Increased demand for NoVa can be met by EEC w/i the timeframe DVP considers problematic and beyond. There will come a point in time when these measures can not meet new demand, yes. But the point is there is enough waste and enough generation out there in this very populated and high commerce region to conserve and manage, whereby, new generation whether supplied by transmission or by generation can be avoided. DVP disagrees but they have also done very little along the lines of EEC to begin with. The SCC will bring this all out and hopefully, like the state of California, will require DVP to demonstrate EEC’s deficiency.
It should also be pointed out that the new “preferred” route, since it is longer, will supply less electricity. A new 500kv line supplies the equivalent of appx 2700-3000 MW and with the longer line, I believe the transmission reduction is somewhere greater than 20%. Why not seek to save land from being seized and devalued, if some ~2500-2700 MW is all that is needed to alleviate congestion and blackout fears? Remember the North Anna expansion is to come online around 2018-20. EEC could bridge the gap until that time.
The Fort Belvoir expansion calls for self-generation. New data centers for Dulles will be built under new design which has dramatic less energy consumption. Its already being implemented in Seattle, San Fran and San Jose. Distribute low-emmission generators to power the new metro and commerce centers.
What I am preaching is nothing new and nothing DVP, PJM, FERC, and the DOE doesn’t already know. Transmission creates more revenue and DVP’s opportunity to sell excess transmission to northern distributors is icing on the cake.
Make the existing grid efficient first.
Ron, it might sound NIMBY but its not, and you aren’t the 1st one to suggest that of me. If it is proven the demand is there and EEC cannot carry the load, then the powerline has to come thru. However, the proposed preferred route will not be around any property I own. In my research to learn about the EPA of 2005 I found how this entire lack of electricity and the need for new transmission is a nationwide problem with only a few ways to avoid it. One way which is being currently discussed at FERC, DOE and Congress is EEC, and among this is demand response and advanced metering (aka smart meters.) FYI, Congress considered EEC so important, it pushed ahead EEC debates ahead of climate bill.
http://www.ferc.gov/industries/electric/indus-act/demand-response.asp
The FERC report to Congress on Demand Respond and Advanced Metering speaks for itself. Here’s an excerpt from page 11
“To a degree, generation, transmission, and demand response are substitutes, depending on the location of generation or demand response. As a substitute for generation, demand response can serve as a local peaking resource and thereby assist resource adequacy. As a substitute for transmission and
distribution infrastructure, demand response can reduce the need for new transmission or distribution expansion to bring generation to a local area. At minimum, demand response can provide relief for an overloaded transmission system, and can defer the need for infrastructure. Time-based rates and
direct-load-control can be used to target specific hours when system needs are greatest.
Demand response is not treated in transmission planning uniformly across regions, and demand response is typically not directly assessed during transmission planning. It is included only indirectly in most transmission planning. Existing or expected demand response resources are incorporated into
reliability assessments either as modifications to expected load or as responsive resources. New demand response resources are typically not included as potential solutions to transmission adequacy problems. System planners do not consider demand response equally when they examine options for dealing with transmission inadequacies. If they do consider demand response, it is as a temporary solution until a permanent transmission enhancement is in place. Commission staff found that many regional transmission organizations state that their responsibility is limited to identifying transmission concerns and evaluating proposed solutions, not primarily encouraging demand response. Bonneville Power Administration, the Midwest ISO, and the PJM Interconnection (our region) were the only large entities that reported having policies to consider demand response in transmission planning; however, these have not yet resulted in demand response projects.”
Thanks John Stirrup and the entire PWC (minus the two democrats on the east side who voted against it) for supporting the EEC bill for PWC earlier this year. And thank you to everyone supporting the cause at the SCC.
“Spikes in peak demand during the 20 hottest days of the summer are the main reason for increased generation and/or transmission.”
So why doesn’t Dominion Virginia Power offer load management switches? NOVEC does.
load management switches for residential AC and electric water heaters, that it. I have a NOVEC load management switch on my AC unit. My water heater is gas.
Dan, you continue to prove your expertise with cut-n-paste and your self-defined plays on words. One fact remains: As of today, the 10th of August 2007, Demand Response is not real.
It is a very good idea that currently lives on paper, but advanced metering and the ability to communicate demand limitations to consumers are technologies in their infancies. If you want to use the FERC report to Congress as an example, you should not just cut and paste two paragraphs that you couldn’t paraphrase yourself–you should also point out that there are 21 pages that describe the tangible and regulatory obstacles that prevent DR from being a reality today. (Chapter IV’s section, “Current issues/challenges”; Chapter VI’s section, “Concerns and Obstacles”; and the entirety of Chapter VII, “Regulatory Barriers”)
According to Dominion, demand will exceed capacity by the summer 2011. Do you really think Demand Response and Advanced Metering systems could be widely used in less than four years?
“but advanced metering and the ability to communicate demand limitations to consumers are technologies in their infancies”
NOVEC has been installing load management switches since at least 1991. All the water heaters at Maplewood Park Apartments where I then lived were equipped with them. In return they got free water heater repairs from NOVEC. The offer still stands to this day: Anyone with NOVEC that has an electric water heater who allows them to install a load management switch gets free water heater repairs (excluding replacing a leaking tank, but including replacing thermostats, fuses, and heating elements).
Again I ask the question: Why doesn’t Dominion Power (and the Manassas municipal electric company for that matter) offer load management switches? NOVEC does and has been doing so for YEARS.
I believe there was a question about Frank Wolf. Yes, I heard a few weeks ago that he was trying to fight this but it seems the lobby groups want Congress to declare our county a strategic area for energy. Looks like Congress is going to ram Dominion Power’s lines down our throats. Mr. Wolf can’t fight Dominion alone. You all need to call Tom Davis and everyone you can think of.
anonymous - Read my last post without skimming it this time and you’ll see a reference that will lead to your enlightenment. Hint: the number 21 is involved. Sheesh.
Just because the super conglomerate that is NOVEC offers load management switches doesn’t mean their use is widespread. I could offer a hypothesis as to the reason(s) NOVEC has such an offer, but that would be a further digression from the topic at hand. Dan introduced the FERC report as a resource of thusfar undisputed information, so until somebody can disprove the FERC report I will consider it an accurate statement on the lack of feasible present day, widespread implementation of Demand Response.
“I could offer a hypothesis as to the reason(s) NOVEC has such an offer”
No need. It saves them money on peak electricity costs. Which, being a cooperative, they pass right along to their customers. They said the switches pay for themselves in less than year.
“Just because the super conglomerate that is NOVEC offers load management switches doesn’t mean their use is widespread.”
I didn’t dispute that. The other utilities in this area do not offer them. You are looking for an argument where there is none. The question is why other utilities do not offer them when apparently NOVEC finds them to be valuable.
“They said the switches pay for themselves in less than year.”
Who are “they” that say that. Or can I consider all of your statements unfounded like this one? (This one proves to be false, by the way. In 2002, NOVEC’s average debt per meter was $1410. In 2005 it was $1032. See NOVEC’s 2006 Annual Report.)
I trust you will post references to your “facts” from now on.
I’m not looking for an argument — as I stated in my first comment I do not have enough information to make a decision. But now having learned a little bit more, I can provide yet another answer to your question. Dominion is a public entity with over 2 million customers. Following NOVEC’s model of meter distribution would have a potential near term cost of 2.8 billion dollars in meter debt alone. Shareholders probably wouldn’t like that, so that is one reason why they wouldn’t follow the NOVEC model.
Now, remind me again, which party favor business?
Better hope they don’t start reducing standards on power lines like they did coal mines. Sum them fancy rich republicans might get cooked.
NOVEC’s long term debt has *nothing* to do with whether their load management program is paying for itself.
I have attended NOVEC’s annual meeting and it was stated there that they *cannot pay down their debt any faster than they currently are.* The REA loans must be repaid on a certain schedule. They cannot pay them off faster. Therefore they continue to issue capital credits (dividends) to their customers, rather than using that money to pay down their debt.
Incidentally, the information that the load management switches pay for themselves in less than a year comes from a NOVEC employee. I suppose he could have been wrong or lied to me.
Incidentally, as a customer who has dealt with both companies, I prefer NOVEC. Dominion acts like a large company that just doesn’t give a crap about you.
“Dominion acts like a large company that just doesn’t give a crap about you.”
If you want evidence of that, by the way, look at the condition of the meter pedestals in the Old Greenwich subdivision in Fredericksburg. Most of them have loose covers under which are exposed 120V bus bars. I actually had conversation with Dominion over the condition of these things and they denied any responsibility for them, yet the next time I checked SOMEONE (probably Dominion, I don’t know anyone else who would have done it) had done a half-ass job of securing them. Hmm…. The things need to be replaced, but Dominion isn’t going to do it until someone gets hurt.
“NOVEC’s long term debt has *nothing* to do with whether their load management program is paying for itself.”
anonymous, you absolute jackass who can’t take a point with context - nobody ever said it did… I was just calling you out on your BS.
It doesn’t take a high school diploma to realize that NOVEC’s finances have nothing to do with Dominion’s finances. Small, new companies (or so-called cooperatives) for many reasons have the ability to offer better services at better costs than old large companies like Dominion.
The funny thing is how much time I’ve wasted when you think something is being debated here — all I’ve done is tried to add some facts and opinion to the discussion. I’ll summarize my points to make it simple for you:
1. Alexandria had a somewhat similar battle with VA Power some time ago and lost. (I’ll add, that had more to do with EMFs, I think.)
2. Savings does not equal production.
3. The FERC report disputes the present day feasibility of DR.
4. One reason Dominion doesn’t do what NOVEC does is because Dominion isn’t NOVEC. (Dominion is big, NOVEC is small. Dominion answers to shareholders who want to make money, NOVEC is not-for-profit.)
My apologies again to Greg and the readers for inadvertently inciting the mindless brouhaha.
Me: “NOVEC’s long term debt has *nothing* to do with whether their Me: load management program is paying for itself.”
You: “anonymous, you absolute jackass who can’t take a point with You: context - nobody ever said it did… I was just calling you out on You: your BS.”
Did you or did you not cite NOVEC’s debt per meter as evidence that their load management program is not paying for itself, ie, this:
Me: ““They said the switches pay for themselves in less than year.”
You: Who are “they” that say that. Or can I consider all of your
You: statements unfounded like this one? (This one proves to be
You: false, by the way. In 2002, NOVEC’s average debt per meter was You: $1410. In 2005 it was $1032. See NOVEC’s 2006 Annual
You: Report.)”
What proves to be false? Perhaps I misunderstood you. It seems to me you’re trying to state that the switches cannot be paying for themselves because NOVEC has long-term debt.
Along those lines, perhaps I’m a deadbeat without a job because my house isn’t paid for yet…
“It doesn’t take a high school diploma to realize that NOVEC’s finances have nothing to do with Dominion’s finances. Small, new companies (or so-called cooperatives) for many reasons have the ability to offer better services at better costs than old large companies like Dominion.”
NOVEC dates back to at least 1935. Hardly new. The reason why NOVEC serves much of the Manassas area and not Dominion Power is a bit interesting, too. Seems Dominion didn’t think it was profitable to serve Manassas back then. So people got together and started their own electric company, owned by the customers. This is what a cooperative is, and why they exist. They serve the areas that the investor-owned utilities such as Dominion couldn’t have been bothered with way back when.
“Did you or did you not cite NOVEC’s debt per meter as evidence that their load management program is not paying for itself”
I most certainly did not. As I so bluntly said last time, “I was just calling you out on your BS.”
I also wanted to point out that DOM would have a much larger expense because of their size, but the specific dollars have nothing to do with that. And I acknowledge that I know less about NOVEC than you do: perhaps that still supports the opinion that small/lesser known companies have more flexibility.
And while I am frustrated by my inability to communicate simple disparate thoughts, I also sincerely apologize for the unjustified language spawned by my frustration.
I must ask, then, what point you were making when you brought up NOVEC’s debt per meter?
“And I acknowledge that I know less about NOVEC than you do: perhaps that still supports the opinion that small/lesser known companies have more flexibility.”
Perhaps they do. All of the electric utility companies I’ve found by doing a Google search for “load management switch” are municipal or cooperative electric utility companies.
It could be as simple as that municipal and cooperative electric utility companies are less likely to have their own generation capabilities and when they do they are typically diesel or natural gas fired “peaker” plants which are quite expensive to run. (The Manassas City municipal utility actually does have several diesel generators they can use for peak load purposes).
Dominion, on the other hand, owns multiple power plants and that probably makes them much less likely to have to buy power from other companies during peak load times.
“I also sincerely apologize for the unjustified language spawned by my frustration.”
I do accept the apology.
You’re rather naive, Greg. Witness the giant power line that marches through Old Town Manassas, along the railway right-of-way, except for the segment near the Manassas Museum that runs along Prince William Street (which makes it even more offensive, oddly, due to the offset). Even when Manassas had more enlightened leadership. the City Council caved like skeered meerkats (read, proud Republicans, standing up for the rights of L’il Dominion Power against the ferocious citizenry). If you want a foreshadowing of what is likely to happen with the new corridor, take a look at the records of the Manassas City Council as they relate to the debate over the power lines that stompt hrough Old Town Manassas. Basically, the Manassas City Council put bright lipstick on their lips and cheap ruge on their cheeks (can you say easter egg) and said “come pleasure yourself” to Dominion Power. Despite the relatively low cost of placing the line underground (less than $5 million dollars), the City Council, in its defense of democracy, capitalism and the American way, trashed the visual beauty of Old Town. Sorry Greg, if this is a revelation to you, since you just showed up, and since your complete knowledge of our community seems to have begun in 2003. Your views can be succinctly and fully described as cognitavely dissonant. You have strong views and little knowledge.
Times, they are a’changin! Citizens can make a difference. The quarry fight last year was a good example. The quarry company put millions into studies, put thousands into schools (to buy the school acceptance), put thousands into the Chamber (to get the chamber guys to stand up and do their bidding…the same guys who are speaking out for the power line this time around), put thousands into the local supervisor’s campaign funds and county “community” projects (like $50K for the George Mason concert hall) right before the vote. They spent several years spreading the propaganda saying “The quarry is a done deal.” Everyone said the citizens can’t fight it…the quarry people own the land and they own the supervisors.
The citizens had no money, just their voices and outrage but they prevailed…..they prevailed over all that money and all that political good ole’ boy backroom dealing. What if those citizens had listened to everyone who said it was a done deal?
The quarry was not a done deal and neither is this obscene power profit line.!
Testimony, Delegate Bob Marshall, (13th District Prince William-Loudoun) State Corporation Commission, August 09, 2007
Last fall, after I wrote several thousand of my constituents about a public meeting hosted by Virginia Power on the construction of a proposed 550 KV electric power through portions of Prince William and Loudoun Counties, I attended the public information meeting at George Mason University’s Manassas Campus.
There, Dominion officials, specifically an engineer told me that it would not be technically feasible or indeed even technically possible to use existing power line right of ways for this proposed power line. I asked why. I was told that I would have to take it on his word that it was not possible. I sought an explanation, and was given a conclusion.
Now, we see that it is the existing power line right of way that is the alleged preferred route for the new power line expansion. So what was technically impossible last Fall, is eminently feasible in August, 2007. I am not an engineer, but it is because of responses like this have raised considerable concern among the hundreds of constituents who have communicated their concerns to me over this proposal.
As a state representative I am asking you to go back and examine the public needs statements made by Dominion when the initial announcements came out for this proposal with the statements made today by Dominion.
As a state representative, I am asking you, the State Corporation Commission to thoroughly and if necessary independently examine or seek outside competent technical expertise and have them examine the assumptions the assumptions operative with the initial Dominion proposal before their filing with the SCC, and those that are now prevalent in the current application.
Some of these would include the alleged factual situation and assumption then as well as statements by Dominion then and now that Dominion:
(1) didn’t want to use a longer route because of expense, but that’s what is now proposed;
(2) didn’t want a longer route because of energy losses, but again that’s what is proposed;
(3) had a number of viable alternate routes, but now has only 1 alternative that must be negotiated with VDOT;
(4) has a good conservation and demand reduction program, but nearly 3 months after submitting the application announces formation of an energy conservation group within the company to encourage renewed customer interest in energy efficiency and to explore pilot programs;
(5) would use the state process to gain approval of its application and did not intend to make use of the new Federal backstop authority, and now won’t comment on what might happen if the application is denied.
It took the General Assembly two years to develop an approach to equitable addressing the eminent domain concerns raised by the Kelo Decision of the US Supreme Court. Under newly passed Virginia law this year any public utility has a high burden of proof that any taking of private real property is really necessary for the construction of high voltage power lines. Here is the new law language:
“The right to private property being a fundamental right … No more private property may be taken than that which is necessary to achieve the stated public use … During condemnation proceedings, the property owner may challenge whether the taking or damaging is for a public use, the stated public use is a pretext for an unauthorized use … Nothing in this section shall be construed as abrogating any defenses or rights otherwise available to the property owner independently of this section. (See HB 2954)
If the SCC approves a route that involves any considerable new takings of property, I am suggesting to you that unless Dominion can prove that there were no viable alternatives to erecting a new massive 550 KV power line such as energy conservation, smaller power generating stations nearer to Northern Virginia Consumers, and similar concerns that any such route selection will be subject to profound eminent domain litigation on the need for the takings.
Lastly, there is the statute I authored this year which gives local governments the right to assign power line corridors for 150+ KV power lines. My statute provides that:
“If the local comprehensive plan of an affected county or municipality designates corridors or routes for electric transmission lines and the line is proposed to be constructed outside such corridors or routes, in any hearing the county or municipality may provide adequate evidence that the existing planned corridors or routes designated in the plan can adequately serve the needs of the company. Additionally, the Commission shall consider, upon the request of the governing body of any county or municipality in which the line is proposed to be constructed, (i) the costs and economic benefits likely to result from requiring the underground placement of the line and (ii) any potential impediments to timely construction of the line. (HB 3031)
This wording received the agreement of Dominion Power, Allegheny Power and local governments across Virginia. The words, “any potential impediments to timely construction of the line” includes likely litigation resulting from route selection,
which is more or less likely depending on the route selected.
You have a job cut out for you, but the Citizens of Virginia have through their legislature, placed their confidence in you to exercise thorough and responsible oversight regarding this most important matter. Thank you.
siebenundsiebzig said on 10 Aug 2007 at 5:18 pm:
“Dan, you continue to prove your expertise with cut-n-paste and your self-defined plays on words. One fact remains: As of today, the 10th of August 2007, Demand Response is not real.”
Demand Response is not real huh?
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=72038
Nationalized demand response isn’t real yet, true, however, the House just passed a bi-partisan supported bill this very afternoon which would make it a nationalized program. Now it goes to the Senate for debate. Unlike a few states, CA & CT for example, I am not sure if the national RPS would include MWs saved from DR. Haven’t researched that yet.
“Do you really think Demand Response and Advanced Metering systems could be widely used in less than four years?”
Dominion has employed zero smart meters in the state of Va, while utilities like Alleghany, NOVEC and others have installed some tens of thousands smart meters, especially in states like Pennsylvannia. And Dominion, last I checked, only conserves some 400MW from DR in NoVa last year.
Instead of being a naysayer for the sake of it, perhaps you should think why Dominion and the SCC has allowed our state to be dead last in energy conservation? There appears to be alot of electricity in tihs grid wasted, which could be claimed and put to use. Why not make the existing grid efficient first, before seizing private property?
If DVP does do this and the SCC agrees that EEC doesn’t or can’t fulfill the reliability standards necessary for our state’s grid security at a price which is fair, then I would agree, the line has to come, period. So far, all DVP has said is “it is wishful thinking” but has yet to supply anything in the form of data which supports that statement.
And since the PJM has requested NIETC status for MeadowBrook to Loudoun, and since this line would serve in part other utilities besides those here in NoVa, it seems prudent these other utilities should also be required to make their own grids efficient first, before any NIETC lines is sited which would supply them electricity. If transmission and lack of overall electricity is a national problem, why is it that just a few landowners around our nation, including those here in Northern Viriginia, have to carry the burden for others who don’t conserve and who are wasteful with their electricity use?
According to FERC, DR is currently 40% off of its peak use, which was back in 1997. The reason for its falloff was stated to be lack of encouragement from utilities and state utility commissions. Even PJM own solicited report from the Brattle Group on DR earlier this year, stated DR would not only save all consumers money, it would avoid unnecessary investements in infrastructure, and put off transmission as much as 7 years in some locations.
Make the existing grid efficient, then move forward with whatever transmission or generators are necessary. EEC is cheaper, cleaner, and more readily available. Its conservative and its makes sense.
Here’s a kick in the head for you …
Dominion to investigate business opportunities of climate change http://www.platts.com/Electric%20Power/News/6422499.xml?p=Electric%20Power/News&sub=Electric%20Power
…greater demand-response, distributed energy, higher capacity transmission reconductoring.
Virginia’s Commitment is a not-for-profit coalition working in opposition to Dominion Power’s proposed transmission line. For details, see www.VirginiasCommitment.org On the site is an easy email device that is a great way to get your voice heard by legislators and the SCC. Time is short. Email through our site now, before the SCC deadline runs out.
And don’t think the issue doesn’t matter just because the proposed power line doesn’t run directly through your own neighborhood. This is an issue of unrestricted power by an entity that dominates Virginia’s business and political communities. This also is an issue of massive degradation of whole communities and the environmental at large.
Meanwhile, have you noted Dominion Power’s early morning announcement today on a new grant to Virginia Tech to research carbon sequestration?
At first glance, it seems like just a feel-good (albeit thin) press release. But then … in 30 years of doing PR, I cannot remember ever seeking to put out a positive announcement on a Saturday.
Was it because they wanted to avoid any scrutiny? After all, there are plenty of credible experts available … maybe not on a weekend … who will tell reporters that CO2 sequestration is becoming a discredited pipedream. It’s an idea in search of a technology looking for a practical application that may never come. But it is a good way for Dominion Power to say: “Leave us alone already. See, we can spell climate change.”
Then again, maybe the real purpose of the release wasn’t for the news media at all. Maybe it was intended for emailing and faxing … some 70 hours before the polls open … to candidates who are growing increasingly uncomfortable with Dominion’s intransigence on environmental issues.
We blog about this on our website today. www.VirginiasCommitment.org