TrAIL in the News
Allegheny Energy Headquarters Rising on Schedule
September 17, 2009, The State Journal article
“The building’s 150 employees will provide engineering and other technical support services for the company’s 4,000 miles of high-voltage transmission and 4,000 miles of subtransmission...Fairmont transmission staff will conduct real-time monitoring of the network using those computers and, in addition, will plan, engineer and design all of the maintenance, upgrades and new construction for the network.”
Read full article from The State Journal
Family OKs use of land for power line
August 14, 2009, The Parsons Advocate article
"Last year at the public meetings and hearings for Trail, the Pifer brothers voiced opposition to the project. They brought photos of the family farm to the meetings and asked PSC officials and attorneys for Allegheny Power why the line couldn't be built on public land. But after a dozen visits and conversations with Zach Palmer, a Trail right-of-way agent, the brothers negotiated a deal and signed two easement options."
Read full article from The Parsons Advocate
Solving the System Overload: The TrAIL and PATH Project
Summer 2009, West Virginia Executive
"Throughout West Virginia, as well as the surrounding Mid-Atlantic region, the demand for electricity has increased dramatically while growth of transmission infrastructure has lagged behind. This results in greater reliability risks for consumers. … TrAIL has a simple yet vital mission: ensure the lights stay on for years to come. The line’s sole purpose is to improve the reliability of the existing transmission grid."
Read full article from West Virginia Executive
Winners all around for TrAIL developments
August 17, 2008, Times West Virginian commentary
“Certainly Allegheny Energy will benefit from the TrAIL project, but we think the City of Fairmont, Marion County and West Virginia are real winners, too. Good jobs, reduced rates, long-term income for the state, new residents, B&O taxes from the construction of the facility, support of the service industry — this announcement is the best news we’ve heard in this county for some time.”
Read full commentary from the Times West Virginian
ANALYSIS-Lack of new power lines threatens renewable growth
June 20, 2008, Reuters
"While companies scramble to drive down the price of power produced by sun and wind, many say a dearth of transmission lines in remote areas ideal for wind farms and solar plants is a bigger impediment than cost to spurring U.S. growth of renewable energy."
Read full analysis from Reuters
Things fall apart: Nation must get serious about fixing our crumbling infrastructure
May 4, 2008, Charleston Gazette commentary
“And if we cannot site new power lines like the one proposed by Allegheny Power and Dominion Virginia Power, it will not be possible for power companies to keep up with increasing demand for electricity and maintain the reliability of the electrical grid that we all depend upon.”
Read full commentary from the Charleston Gazette
Vital Power Transmission Grid Needs Upgrade
"Transmission of electricity is as vital to reliable service as the power plants that generate electricity and the poles and wires in your neighborhood that bring it to your home. The transmission system also permits the states where the electricity is produced to benefit from jobs and increased tax revenues."
Read full commentary from the West Virginia State Journal
Plugging In To Our Future
February 2, 2008, Washington Observer-Reporter Commentary
"That’s because this segment of TrAIL – which will connect our proposed 502 Junction and Prexy substations in Greene and Washington counties – will solely address local reliability concerns. Power transmitted along this segment will flow north into Washington County to serve these growing communities."
Read full commentary from the Washington Observer-Reporter
W. Va. Should Bear Only Fair Share
November 28, 2007, Wheeling News-Register editorial
"...Another consideration is that the line, if constructed, will be part of a regional power grid serving many states. The overall capacity of that grid affects each and every state served by each and every segment of it..."
Full editorial from the Wheeling News-Register
November 9, 2007, Beaver County Times editorial
"...if the United States does not address its increasingly stressed power grid, blackouts and brownouts are going to be commonplace..."
Full editorial from the Beaver County Times
July 12, 2007, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Letter to the Editor
“We support energy conservation, but these measures alone are not enough to meet the demand.”
Full letter from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
June 18, 2007 – The Christian Science Monitor article
“…within the industry, many agree on the need for mandatory national standards to deal with a power grid that has become much more complex…”
Full article from The Christian Science Monitor
June 5, 2007 – Cumberland Times-News editorial
“…the grid could suffer potential blackouts by 2011 if the line is not completed.…”
Full editorial from Cumberland Times-News
May 1, 2007 – Charleston Daily Mail editorial
“…These are lines that must be built and investments that must be made.…”
Full editorial from Charleston Daily Mail
April 30, 2007 – Forbes.com article
“…the Energy Department's recent announcement is a strong signal that more power lines will likely soon be on their way…”
December 3, 2006 – Richmond Times-Dispatch editorial
“…If the power line is not built, the results would not be good -- at least if the Commonwealth maintains its current system of electricity generation…”
Full editorial from The Richmond Times-Dispatch
October 22, 2006 – The Washington Post editorial
“…..the power crunch will get worse if no transmission line is built. Blackouts can be expected starting in 2011…”
