Aug. 2--The state Public Service Commission has approved Allegheny Energy's plans for a 500-kilovolt transmission line that would cross 120 miles of north-central West Virginia. The decision comes after more than a year filled with public hearings, heated testimony and debate.

"Decisions concerning projects of this magnitude are never easy," PSC Commissioner Jon. W. McKinney said. "However, the Commission believes that TrAILCo [Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Co.] proved the need for this project as an active part of the solution to regional electricity supply issues, and also showed a good-faith effort to minimize environmental and cultural impacts."

The project is part of a proposed 500-kilovolt transmission line that would start in Pennsylvania, pass through West Virginia and continue to northern Virginia. Sarah Robertson, PSC spokeswoman, said the commission requires that TrAILCo receive approvals from other states involved before beginning construction.

The Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line's (TrAIL) proposed route crosses eight West Virginia counties -- Grant, Hardy, Hampshire, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Taylor and Tucker. TrAILCo is managing the project for Allegheny Energy.

"The PSC has set a dangerous precedent with approval of TrAIL and we expect a substantial number of new power lines and power plants will be proposed," said Don Corwin, president of the Halleck Community Association, an opponent of the project. "The future of West Virginia appears to be one of power lines and power plants from border to border. Our new slogan will be 'West Virginia, Open for Exploitation.' "

Allegheny spokesman Allen Staggers said the company's legal staff has not had a chance to review the commission's order because it was issued late Friday evening.

"Until that review is complete, the company will not comment on the order," he said.

The commission chose the "Grafton" route over Allegheny's preferred route that would have cut through the Laurel Hill and Triune-Halleck areas in Monongalia County -- areas that organized stiff opposition to the project.

"The Halleck Community Association has mixed feelings over the approval of TrAIL," Corwin said. "While we are relieved that TrAIL is not passing through the heart of our community, we are disappointed that many of our fellow West Virginians may now be forced to surrender their property for a power line that serves out-of-state customers."

The Grafton route parallels Allegheny's existing 500-kilovolt power lines from Fort Martin to Pruntytown and on to Mount Storm, a corridor that has been in use for about 40 years. "The commission found that the Grafton route is a better balance of needs by using paralleling and existing transmission rights-of-way," Robertson said.