Walking a Problematic PATH

Transmission gets ignored, put upon, forgotten, quietly doing an important and thankless gig---that is, until a line needs to be built near our homes. Then, power transmission is evil technology, HAL of the electric world (stretch back to that last “2001: A Space Odyssey” viewing). Then, transmission is intent on our physical destruction (with EMF) or our economic downfall (thinking that towers/lines/poles will decrease property value). Then, transmission is our enemy. We want the power, but we hate the transmission.

And, thinking transmission is our enemy makes the act of siting a line nearly impossible. It takes a lot of money and the patience of a Buddhist, mountain-top guru. There are regulatory hurdles, tech hurdles, geography hurdles, consumer hurdles. It’s a tough path to walk, even for a simple project like PATH.

PATH stands for Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline, a joint venture of American Electric Power (AEP) and Allegheny Energy to build a new high-voltage interstate transmission line from West Virginia to Maryland. Specifically, the project is a 765-kilovolt transmission line extending approximately 275 miles from the Amos Substation in Putnam County, W.Va., to the proposed Kemptown Substation southeast of New Market, Md. The project also includes a new Welton Spring Substation along the proposed route in northwest Hardy County, W.Va.

This project was approved---even deemed necessary---by the local grid operator, PJM, way back in 2007. It’s a mere 275 miles. Out here in flat plains country, that’s a bit less than a four-hour drive, what we would term “a spit in a bucket.”

Yet, that project has hit all sorts of issues, despite being inside a government-designated National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor. (You remember those. They were supposed to make transmission siting a super snap, as fast as driving the length needed. Approval in no time flat.)

There have been nasty rumors which have been repeatedly denied by the companies/parties involved, including:

“I’ve heard that PATH is only being constructed to transport power to New Jersey and none of the electricity will supply our region. Is that true?”

I’m also hearing that you’re only building this line so you can sell more power from coal-fired power plants in the Midwest to electric users in the Northeast.”

Those rumors got so heated that they are responded to on the project’s website under the frequently asked questions section.

And there have been regulatory setbacks, too. It needed to wander about 20 miles into Maryland. Maryland didn’t wish to be wandered upon and said, “No way,” setting the projecting back about a year. West Virginia and Virginia took similar regulatory high roads, projecting buckets and boatloads of demands before agreeing to even think about the project.

One of those demands was, in fact, a new study on demand, electricity demand. Basically, those regulators wanted to know if such a line was really needed. Now it looks like they might hear things (in a hearing-type format) in January (yes, January 2011) and that the project might get word of a decision by May 2011.

Remember how those corridors were supposed to make siting fly by? Like, in a blink of an eye? Remember?

Anyway, back to the story. This week, the PATH stakeholders said, “Hey, by the way, we need this line to be up and running by 2015 in order to meet rising demand.”

According to a note released late last week, an analysis conducted as part of PJM’s 2010 Regional Transmission Expansion Plan supports previous studies about the line’s necessity.

“All analysis to date indicates that the PATH project remains the most robust and effective means to ensure the long-term reliability of the PJM grid,” said Steven R. Herling, Vice President of Planning, PJM.

Whether PJM’s solemn word on the subject will be good enough for regulators in West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland remains to be seen---most likely until January 2011. At that time, PATH will be verging on four years in limbo. By the decision process in May, they’ll have another four years to build before that PJM 2015 deadline.

The question is: Will PATH really have four years to completion or will another round of rumors and regulation stall more transmission coming to the Northeast?

Whether you want you power through coal, nuclear or renewables, that sizzle has to have a path to get to the consumer. Here’s hoping this PATH paves the way for more, if all parties involved can invoke the patience of those Buddhist mountain-top gurus until the project finally gets the OK to put rubber (or, in this case, steel) to the scenic byways.

Cross your fingers for 2011.