Taylor County Commission fighting TrAIL 500 kV line

In a meeting last Tuesday, the Taylor County Commission voted 3-0 to oppose the "Grafton Area Route", a proposed alternative route for the Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line project -- a 500kV electric transmission line which will run from southwestern Pennsylvania to northern Virginia.

The "Grafton Area Route" proposal came about after local residents in Monongalia and Preston counties strenuously opposed the original proposed route of the line, which would cut through the Halleck and Gladesville areas of Mon and Preston County, respectively. The WV Public Service Commission's Consumer Advocate Division ordered an alternative route study, and the Grafton Area Route is the result of that study.

The Grafton Area Route would, generally, follow the route of the existing Ft. Martin-Pruntytown line. It would then cut through the Wickwire area of Taylor County, before meeting up with the Pruntytown-Mt. Storm line; the right of way for the Grafton Area Route would more or less parallel the existing line.

The Grafton Area Route, in every measurable way according to the study, will have a greater negative impact upon people and the environment than the original proposed route. For example, the Grafton Area Route may require the removal of at least one residence, while the original route does not threaten any structures. In addition, the Grafton Area Route will place the lines within 250 feet of nearly 100 residences, while the original route will similarly affect less than 50. Add to that the additional economic and environmental costs, and the Grafton Area Route appears to be an inferior choice to the original proposed route.