Representatives from Allegheny Energy and American Electric Power (AEP) visited Martinsburg Wednesday to discuss the rerouting of the Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline, or PATH.  Officials hope the proposed high-voltage power lines will prevent a predicted overload of current transmission lines that could lead to the instability of the power grid for the entire east coast.

The project was originally going to run through parts of Jefferson and Berkeley County as the lines connected with a substation in Bedington, but Ron Poff, Senior Project Manager for American Electric Power said the process of line routing evolves over time.  The substation in Bedington is no longer being used as a midpoint and so Berkeley County will not be along the new route for the power lines; however, parts of Jefferson County may still house some of the project.

Poff said there are currently two teams of experts working on PATH, and as they enter the project area, they start to quantify the impact the lines would have on a given region.  Route changes are made to try and place the lines where the most reasonable impact would be made.  He stressed the fact that there will be some impact with a project of this size, but that it is incumbent upon the companies involved to make sure it is the route that will have the least impact possible before seeking consent of appropriate approval authorities.

Vernon Estel Director of Transmission Projects for Allegheny Energy said during the meeting that open houses are planned for areas affected by the potential new routes December 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th.  The input from the public will be evaluated and the ultimate plan is to have the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) filed with the Public Service Commission in March of 2009.

Estel said the southern route through Jefferson County is a likely route for the project in terms of the alternatives.  It runs along an existing 500 kilovolt line.  Various citizens’ groups have come out in opposition to the project coming through any part of the county.  Those issues will be addressed during the public hearings and comments are taken any time at www.pathtransmission.com.