Competitive Power Ventures Inc. had been among the leading critics of a proposed 65-mile, $243 million high-voltage transmission line through Virginia. As the owners of a planned power plant in rural Warren County, CPV held special sway.Competitive Power Ventures Inc. had been among the leading critics of a proposed 65-mile, $243 million high-voltage transmission line through Virginia. As the owners of a planned power plant in rural Warren County, CPV held special sway.
But just days before a crucial State Corporation Commission hearing, CPV mysteriously dropped its opposition to the transmission line.
And now we know why. Just days after the SCC hearing, Dominion Resources revealed it had bought the rights to the Warren County project:
Opponents say it was a thinly veiled means of buying off its opponents.
"It's like the New York Yankees. If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em," said Bob Lazaro, spokesman for the Piedmont Environmental Council, referring to the Yankees' propensity for using their big budget to sign away other teams' top stars.
There are plenty of reasons to oppose the line, from its massive cost to the 12-story towers that will run through in the northern Virginia Piedmont. But most basically, why would we spend a quarter of a billion dollars on increasing capacity when Virginia is last in the nation in spending on energy efficiency and conservation?
You can learn much more about the fight against the transmission line at Virginia's Committment.