- What did I hear about new electric transmission lines being built from
southwestern West Virginia to Maryland?
- What is PJM and what is its role in planning new transmission lines?
- Where will the new proposed transmission line be located?
- Why is the PATH project needed?
- What are the benefits of the project?
- How can these reliability concerns impact me?
- I’m 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.
Is that true?
- How will Allegheny and AEP build PATH?
- How much does PATH cost, and who will pay for it?
- Isn’t Allegheny already building a transmission line? If TrAIL goes
into service, why do we need PATH?
- What regulatory approvals will be required?
- Is the vicinity of the proposed PATH line within a National Interest
Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC)?
- How will the line route be decided?
- Why can't you expand the capacity of current lines?
- Why is PATH now proposing one 765-kV line to Kemptown, when it previously
said twin circuit 500-kV lines were needed?
- Does a 765-kV line require a wider right-of-way than a 500-kV line?
Will the towers need to be taller?
- Isn’t it true that exposure to electric and magnetic fields (EMF)
causes health problems?
- Is EMF a greater concern with 765-kV lines?
- Why are you proposing a new substation in Kemptown?
- How will PATH acquire the property for this project?
- Will new transmission lines increase our reliance on coal-fired generation
and further contribute to global warming?
- Stringing new transmission lines is not the solution. Can we avoid
the need for the line via energy conservation measures capable of reducing demand?
1. What did I hear about new electric transmission lines being
built from southwestern West Virginia to
Maryland?
Effective Sept. 1, 2007, the PJM Board of Managers approved upgrades to the region’s
electric transmission system that include the construction of a new line from southwestern
West Virginia to central Maryland, designed to maintain the reliability of the transmission
grid. PJM has approved plans for Allegheny and American Electric Power (AEP) to
build the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH), a new transmission line
to expand the regional electric transmission grid.
The PJM board included PATH in its 2007 regional transmission expansion plan, which is designed to maintain the reliability of the grid. The PATH project will consist of a single 765-kilovolt (kV) transmission line from AEP’s Amos substation near St. Albans, W.Va., to a new substation near Kemptown, southeast of Frederick, Md. The project also will include a new mid-point substation in the vicinity of eastern Grant County, northern Hardy County or Hampshire County in West Virginia.
As part of the project, AEP and Allegheny are committed to working with local communities to actively solicit the public’s input. Through this open process, the companies plan to:
- Host more than 20 public open house meetings;
- Provide online access for people to submit questions and comments;
- Meet with community leaders throughout the region; and
- Keep the media updated.
2. What is PJM and what is its role in planning new transmission
lines?
PJM Interconnection is the regional transmission organization serving all or parts
of 13 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. PJM is charged with ensuring the
reliability of the bulk power electric grid and planning new transmission facilities
to meet the reliability and economic needs of the region it serves.
3. Where will the new proposed transmission line be located?
PATH will connect AEP’s Amos substation in Putnam County, West Virginia, to a proposed
substation near Kemptown in Frederick County, Maryland. The project also will include
a proposed mid-point substation in the vicinity of eastern Grant County, northern
Hardy County or southern Hampshire County in West Virginia. The PATH team is developing
new routing alternatives between the mid-point area and Kemptown. The team expects
to determine the exact proposed route of the line by the first quarter of 2009.
4. Why is the PATH project needed?
Our country’s top energy experts, including the U.S. Department of Energy, the North
American Electric Reliability Corporation and PJM Interconnection, have called for
new transmission lines to be built to prevent looming reliability concerns. The
transmission grid works like a highway system, moving electricity throughout the
region. And we have a traffic jam on that system. If something is not done to relieve
stress on the transmission grid in the next few years, there could be adverse effects
to our region, including blackouts.
5. What are the benefits of the project?
Simply put, new transmission lines will help keep your lights on. PATH is the recommended
solution to avoid overloading numerous existing transmission lines. Overloads threaten
the entire electric power supply system – and blackouts can result from overloads.
Because of the interconnected nature of the grid, each transmission zone is interdependent
on its neighboring zones. As a result, the entire region will benefit from the new
facilities.
6. How can these reliability concerns impact me?
Let me give you an example. It’s a hot day in July and customer demand is at its
peak – the grid is operating at its full capacity. Then something happens to cause
a piece of the grid system to fail somewhere in our region. The system is designed
so that if a section fails, the one nearest to it picks up the increased load. But
that section is already at capacity and can’t handle this increased load, so it
also fails. And then a ripple effect takes place. And a major blackout occurs over
a large region. We are not immune to this scenario. It’s not just about transmitting
electricity through our region to power larger cities in the Northeast and along
the Atlantic seaboard. It’s about affecting our entire region’s reliability because
our section of the grid can’t handle additional strain. And we become vulnerable
to blackouts right here in our communities. This is similar to what happens in any
major blackout.
7. I’m 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. Is that true?
The objective of the PATH project is to strengthen the reliability of our region’s
power grid. Several high-voltage lines that cross our region – including lines through
West Virginia – are at risk of overloading and causing blackouts within the next few
years. Problems on these lines would impact businesses and homes across our region,
as well as potentially anyone else connected to the grid. For this reason, PJM has
directed us to build PATH to address reliability issues on these overburdened lines.
The notion that utilities in the region are only interested in selling electricity to the Northeast is not correct. Transmission owners within PJM – such as Allegheny and AEP – are charged with the legal obligation of maintaining a transmission grid that will provide reliable service to residential, commercial and industrial customers. The PJM region includes the Mid-Atlantic area, where growth in consumer demand for electricity, the lack of adequate new generating capacity being constructed, and the actual and anticipated retirement of older generating units are causing the need for PATH to assure continued reliability of the transmission system.
8. How will Allegheny and AEP build PATH?
Effective Sept. 1, 2007, Allegheny
and AEP finalized a joint venture to build the project. Allegheny and AEP began
working on a routing study and environmental assessment for PATH in early 2008 and
plan to complete the studies by the first quarter of 2009. The companies will seek
regulatory approvals from the utility commissions in the affected states following
the completion of the routing study.
9. How much does PATH cost, and who will pay for it?
Based on current plans, the total project is estimated to cost approximately $1.8
billion. Allegheny currently estimates that its total investment in the project
will be approximately $1.2 billion. AEP’s investment will be approximately $600
million. The cost of the project will be shared by all customers in the PJM’s region.
PJM serves about 51 million people in 13 states and the District of Columbia.
On Dec. 28, 2007, Allegheny and AEP filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for incentive rate recovery, including return on equity and construction work in progress prior to the in-service date. On Feb. 28, 2008, the FERC granted four rate incentives for the project, including 1) an incentive return on equity for new transmission of 14.3 percent, 2) recovery of a return on 100 percent of prudently incurred transmission-related Construction Work in Progress (CWIP) prior to the project’s in-service date, 3) recovery of all startup business and administrative costs incurred prior to the time that rates go into effect, and 4) authorization to recover all prudently incurred development and construction costs if the PATH project is abandoned as a result of factors beyond the control of PATH or its parents.
10. Isn’t Allegheny already building a transmission line? If
TrAIL goes into service, why do we need PATH?
The TrAIL project is a separate, 210-mile project scheduled for
completion in 2011 and is not part of the Allegheny/AEP joint venture. TrAIL and
PATH are both urgently needed to strengthen our underlying transmission grid, and
that’s why PJM has directed us to build both projects.
11. What regulatory approvals will be required?
PATH will seek authority for construction from the respective state utility commissions
that the line crosses. In addition, approvals from other federal, state and appropriate
agencies may be required.
12. Is the vicinity of the proposed PATH line within a National
Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC)?
The entire vicinity where PATH will be sited is within a designated National Interest
Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC). This designation is a clear recognition
from federal officials and policymakers of the importance of the electric transmission
system to the nation's economy and security. However, we fully intend to work with
state regulators to gain authorization for the PATH project.
13. How will the line route be decided?
Planning for the routing of the line began in early 2008 and will include an exhaustive
routing study and environmental assessment. Public open houses will also be held
to gather public input for consideration.
Allegheny and AEP are committed to working with landowners, neighboring residents and business owners and regulators to balance all interests in an effort to minimize environmental and land use impacts. The companies expect to determine the exact proposed route of the line by the first quarter of 2009.
14. Why can’t you expand the capacity of current lines?
A number of practical and economic issues make that alternative unworkable:
Right of Way Constraints – In some cases, the rights-of-way for existing 138-kV transmission lines will not accommodate the Extra High Voltage (EHV) transmission lines that are required for this project. While efforts can be made to parallel existing rights-of-way, the lower voltage lines are often built in close proximity to customers, making it more difficult to construct new EHV facilities along the same path.
Existing Extra-High Voltage Lines Are Needed – Sometimes a new line can be built over an existing line. However, the existing line must be de-energized while the new line is being constructed. But because our transmission system is already so constrained, reliability would be at risk if we de-energized any of the area’s extra-high voltage transmission lines for the duration necessary to complete this work.
Overall Cost – Additional construction costs are incurred due to the increased amount of time, and additional steps required to maintain the existing circuit during construction.
15. Why is PATH now proposing one 765-kV line to Kemptown,
when it previously said twin circuit 500-kV lines were needed?
Because of the configuration of the electrical system surrounding the Bedington
substation, two 500-kV lines were necessary to meet the reliability requirements
established by NERC and PJM. A single 765-kV line from Amos to Kemptown was one
of the original alternatives considered, but PJM recommended the twin circuit 500-kV
lines from Bedington because that configuration provided better system reinforcement.
PJM has reviewed the reconfigured project eliminating Bedington as the mid-point
substation and confirmed that one 765-kV line still meets NERC and PJM reliability
requirements. This 765-kV technology offers the greatest load-carrying capacity
in operation in the U.S. today. It greatly reduces line losses that can occur over
long distances.
16. Does a 765-kV line require a wider right-of-way than
a 500-kV line? Will the towers need to be taller?
For 765-kV and 500-kV lines, the right-of-way width typically is the same – 200
feet. As for the height of a transmission tower, it depends on the topography of
the land and other factors. On average, the towers for 765-kV lines are only about
15 feet taller than the towers for 500-kV lines.
17. Isn’t it true that exposure to electric and magnetic fields
(EMFs) causes health problems?
Electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) are found wherever there is electricity: appliances,
home wiring, office equipment, power lines and all other sources of electricity.
Numerous scientific studies over the past several decades have explored the possibility of health effects from EMFs. While some of the studies have indicated some statistical associations between EMFs and certain health effects, the majority of research has found no such association. A recent study by the World Health Organization (WHO) released in June 2007 states that scientific evidence is too weak to support a causal relationship between EMFs and childhood leukemia.
According to scientific experts, EMF levels on or near a transmission line right-of-way will be similar to household appliances. Further from the right-of-way, the magnitude is similar to that of the distribution lines which run in front of our homes. At greater distances, the field from a line drops to background levels commonly measured in homes, schools and workplaces. Regardless, we will comply with exposure limits recommended by international organizations and we will site the line to minimize the potential long-term exposure of nearby residences as recommended by the WHO.
18. Is EMF a greater concern with 765-kV lines?
AEP has operated 765-kV lines for more than 30 years with no known health effects
from their operation. Electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) are found wherever there
is electricity: appliances, home wiring, office equipment, power lines and all other
sources of electricity.
The primary issues surrounding EMFs and 765-kV lines typically involve corona effects – which are audible noise or radio/TV interference; or induction effects, such as small spark discharges from metal objects that may be in or near the line right-of-way.
This line will use a six-conductor bundle configuration, which significantly reduces any associated corona effects. Regarding induction effects, Allegheny and AEP follow the National Electrical Safety Code to assure that any such spark discharges are below levels that might cause harm.
Numerous scientific studies over the past several decades have explored the possibility of health effects from EMFs. While some of the studies have indicated some statistical associations between EMFs and certain health effects, the majority of research has found no such association. Most importantly, laboratory research has not shown any causal relationship between EMF exposure and cancer, or any other adverse health effects.
19. Why are you proposing a new substation in Kemptown?
PJM’s extensive analysis shows the best improvement to the transmission system will
be achieved by constructing PATH to Kemptown Substation. PATH will "bridge" the
overloaded lines of the existing transmission system, reduce the flows on the existing
transmission lines and provide a strong transmission source directly to where the
power is needed.
By constructing Kemptown Substation at this junction of transmission lines linking major substations of Allegheny Power, Baltimore Gas & Electric, and Potomac Electric Power Company, PATH will greatly improve the reliability of the transmission system serving Maryland and nearby states. The two existing transmission lines will be broken into four segments and the new 765-kV line will be connected at this point which will reinforce the transmission system to the north, south, east and west. This configuration will significantly improve reliability and reduce the flows on the overloaded lines, freeing up capacity on the transmission system.
20. How will PATH acquire the property for this project?
PATH will negotiate agreements with property owners to acquire rights-of-way, also
known as “easements.” We will negotiate with each property owner individually in
an effort to reach a fair and equitable agreement. Although all owners will be treated
fairly, there is no fixed amount that each property owner will be paid or formula
for determining the amount to be paid. Each property is unique and the price paid
for each easement will reflect the differences from one parcel to the next. For
example, the area covered by the easement may be greater or smaller on one parcel
than another; some parcels may have road frontage where others do not; and some
parcels may have a higher or lower value than others due to land use, topography,
size, location or characteristics of the property.
21. Will new transmission lines increase our reliance on coal-fired
generation and further contribute to global warming?
We can’t fully benefit from any electric power generation, whether from existing
sources or from new renewable sources, if we can’t transport this energy from where
it is generated to where it is needed. In its Long-Term Reliability Assessment,
the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) stated that new transmission
lines are needed to deliver renewable power from remotely-located wind and solar
generation projects into population centers. New transmission is also vital to connect
proposed nuclear power plants.
Specifically, PATH will utilize advanced transmission technology that is capable of reducing system losses significantly, resulting in greenhouse gas reductions. Studies show that peak line losses on PATH will drop by 200 megawatts or more, which will reduce carbon dioxide consumption by an estimated 280,000 tons per year. That’s the equivalent of removing 55,000 cars from the road for one year, or 1,291 railcars of coal that would be otherwise consumed for electricity.* In addition, replacing traditional conductor wire with a new advanced design could save an additional 28,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.
*Source: U.S. Climate Technology Cooperation
22. Stringing new transmission lines is not the solution. Can
we avoid the need for the line via energy conservation measures capable of reducing
demand?
We support energy conservation. We’re working hard on new programs that will help
customers use energy more efficiently. But these measures are largely voluntary,
and more importantly, they take time to implement and even more time to produce
results. A 2006 study by the Edison Foundation states that despite conservation
efforts, “the reality is that our nation’s appetite for electricity continues to
grow, and electric utilities must be able to make the necessary investments to meet
this growing demand.” Experts agree – new transmission lines are needed to keep
the lights on for years to come.