Nov. 6--The Virginia Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the State Corporation Commission properly approved the Virginia section of a multistate power line.

The Piedmont Environmental Council, the boards of supervisors for Fauquier, Prince William and Culpeper counties, and some property owners challenged the 2008 SCC approval sought by Dominion Virginia Power and the Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Company.

The 265-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line is intended to increase the reliability of power for the Virginia suburbs of Washington. Federal authorities determined that without a new line an existing one will begin experiencing overloads by 2011.

The new line would run from Pennsylvania into West Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley, then into Northern Virginia.

The parties challenged the SCC approval in an appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court. Among other things, they argued the SCC did not give enough consideration to conservation measures and system upgrades as an alternative to a new power line.

But yesterday the justices held that the SCC conducted its review of the line in compliance with the relevant law and its decision was supported by the evidence.

David Botkins, a spokesman for Virginia Dominion Power, said: "We are pleased the court concluded the SCC's review was thorough and that its decision was fully supported by the facts. We presented evidence to the SCC which demonstrated a clear need for this project."

Piedmont spokesman Robert Lazaro said: "Obviously we're disappointed." He said the decision "cries out for the need of some sort of independent . . . consumer advocate to defend the rate payer and property owner." ------

Contact Frank Green at (804) 649-6340 or fgreen@timesdispatch.com.

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