WOLF: ATTORNEY GENERAL SHOULD APPEAL 
POWER LINE DECISION

Click here for the letter to Attorney General McDonnell (PDF)
Click here for Delegate Bob Marshall's letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10th) today released the following letter to Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell asking that he appeal the State Corporation Commission’s recent decision allowing the construction of huge transmission power lines across much of northern Virginia.

October 10, 2008

The Honorable Robert F. McDonnell
Attorney General of Virginia
900 E Main St 6th Fl
Richmond VA 23219-3510

Dear Attorney General McDonnell:  

I write today in support of Delegate Bob Marshall’s letter, a copy of which I have enclosed, requesting that you appeal the October 7 final order of the State Corporation Commission (SCC) granting permission for Dominion Virginia Power and the Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Company (TrAILCo) to build high voltage transmission lines through parts of northern Virginia.  I ask that you use the full authority at your disposal as the attorney general of Virginia to act on behalf of the people of the Commonwealth to protect Virginia consumers who will be affected by this decision.

I continue to believe that some in Virginia have lost trust in the regulatory process and decisions like this perpetuate this perception.  It is important for you to take action for the following reasons.

The SCC final order states that "other options might be a more efficient use of capital and much less intrusive on the landscape."  This statement indicates that the decision could place an unnecessary economic bur-den on ratepayers in Virginia as it may be more expensive to build transmission lines rather than exploring other options such as integrated planning that considers not only transmission, but generation and conservation.

Commissioner Preston Shannon states in his concurring statement that, "transmission planning and interconnection of generating plants to the grid are no longer based solely on what is best for Virginia."  Shouldn’t the SCC always be doing what is in the best interest of Virginia?  It is appalling that this decision allows other states’ needs to be put before the Commonwealth’s.

I urge you to exhaust every option under your authority and consider the ramifications of such a massive project, particularly given these concerns raised by the SCC commissioners in the final order.

Best wishes.

Sincerely,

Frank R. Wolf
Member of Congress