Power line meetings planned

The Piedmont Environmental Council will host two community meetings to update area residents on Dominion Power’s proposed high-voltage transmission line.

Pennsylvania regulators on Thursday approved a short stretch of the multistate project. A joint proposal by Dominion Virginia Power and Trans-Allegheny Line Co., the $1.3 billion line would run from Pennsylvania through northern Virginia — including Culpeper County — and onto north central West Virginia.

It would supply power to the Washington-New York corridor.

A Nov. 24 meeting is set for 6 p.m. at the Rappahannock Library in Washington, Va., and a Dec. 3 meeting is set for 6 p.m. at the Jefffersonton Community Center in northern Culpeper County.

Supporters of the project say the transmission line is critical to maintaining reliable power.

Opponents, including Warrenton-based PEC, say alternative routes and other options were not thoroughly explored or seriously considered.

The PEC plans to continue with an appeal of the case in the Virginia Supreme Court.