AGENDA REQUEST

Sponsor:

Board of Supervisors Meeting Date: 

Raymond E. Graham, Vice-Chairman, Cedar Run District Supervisor, and Chester W. Stribling, Lee District Supervisor

March 8, 2007

Staff Lead:

Department: 

Paul S. McCulla, County Administrator

County Administration

Topic: 

A Resolution Opposing the Southern Route for the 500-kv Powerline Proposed by Dominion and Allegheny Power and Restating the Board’s Opposition to the Federal Designation Requested for this Line

Topic Description:

Dominion Virginia Power (Dominion) and Allegheny Power have proposed to build a five-hundred kilovolt (500-kv) electric transmission line connecting the Mount Storm power station in West Virginia with the Loudoun County substation in Northern Virginia.  Dominion has identified a possible route for the proposed transmission line following an existing transmission line corridor (the “Southern Route”) through the Marshall, Lee and Cedar Run Magisterial Districts of Fauquier County.  The new Southern Route proposal released by Dominion Power would undermine Federal governmental and historic protections, including the: National Environmental Policy Act, the American Farm and Ranch Protection Act, the United States National Trails System Act 6 of 1968, the National Park System, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.  The Southern Route power line proposal would do considerable harm to Fauquier County’s Comprehensive Plan, which places a high value on agriculture, rural character, scenic viewsheds, tourism and environmental, historic and cultural resources.  The power line proposal would harm Fauquier County’s open-space and conservation easement program.  The Southern Route proposal would do considerable harm to the County’s agricultural and forestal districts.  Dominion and Allegheny Power have not proven that the need for such a line is necessitated by the power needs of Fauquier County, Northern Virginia or the Commonwealth of Virginia as a whole.  Since a sensible national energy policy must foster an optimal mix of deliverable power from diverse sources, the Board of Supervisors does not believe this line will enhance electric reliability or security.  The Board of Supervisors has previously adopted a resolution dated December 14, 2006, stating its opposition to the previous Dominion power line siting proposals and to Allegheny’s request for federal NIET Corridor designation of a power line corridor.

Requested Action of the Board of Supervisors: 

Consider adoption of the attached resolution.

Financial Impacts Analysis:

None at this time.

Identify any other Departments, Organizations or Individuals that would be affected by this request:

Dominion Virginia Power

Alleghany Power