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By Jason Peck
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
It seems like everyone has an opinion on Dominion Virginia Power’s proposed 500 kV-line.
Just ask the recently-formed Power-line Landowner’s Association, who hired an appraiser to project the impact on property around the power line. Or the various counties who have filed against the project, such as Rappahannock, Culpeper, and Fauquier Counties.
And heading the opposition is the Piedmont Environmental Council, which blames Dominion for not explaining a need for it in the first place.
“We can communicate with Mars millions of miles away, but Dominion can’t communicate with its buyers,” PEC spokesperson Bob Lazaro said.
On the other hand, the business community came out in support. The proposal won approval from the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, along with the Virginia Manufacturer’s Association.
“We’re counting that Dominion will work with the public,” Arlington Chamber of Commerce President Rich Doud said. “Businesses just want to know that when they flip the switch, the power comes on.
“We believe that sooner or later this area will need additional power capability,” Doud said. “The problem is, you can’t order that up in five days or five weeks, it’s a big capital project.”
First announced last year, Dominion claims the new power line is needed by 2011 to protect against rolling blackouts in Northern Virginia. An overload would force the company to shut off power to nearly 475,000 homes at a time, claims Dominion.
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