An Eyewitness Account of the Buckhannon PSC Hearings

I just received this account from an Upshur County citizen who attended both hearings in Buckhannon yesterday.  It is so good, I’ll give it to you straight:

Both the 12:30 and 6:30 meetings were very well attended….. the WVWC Campus Center Social Hall was comfortably full…. set up for 200, few seats were empty and additional chairs were set up and filled toward the back of the room at both meetings. —-  So there were probably about 400 total — a little less than 200 at the 12:30 hearing, and a little more at the 6:30 hearing…..  both hearings were 3 – 3 1/2 hours in length with a ten minute break during each.

In all, 82 people spoke — 38 in the earlier session (23 opposed to PATH and 15 in favor), 44 in the evening gathering (42 opposed and 2 speaking in favor )….  All 17 speaking in support of the PATH proposal were employees of a construction company working on the TrAIL line, and/or in some fashion connected with other businesses directly associated with PATH and PJM activities.  Our 65 friends and neighbors saying NO to PATH, did us all proud. … I only wish all the intervenors who were in attendance could have spoken as well.

The difference between the two sessions was like night and day.

The noon time meeting led off with a proponent of the PATH line (Steve Cvechko, the President of the Central Contracting Construction company now working on the TrAIL power line in Tucker and elsewhere) going on for 20 or more minutes with a rambling whine full of exaggerated numbers about workers, economic input to the local stores for breakfasts, other supplies, motels, and other totally bogus and short term fluff. …Several Central Contracting employees also spoke during the 3 hour session, but presentations by the 23 anti-PATH speakers were right on target, powerful and more than made up for the numbers of pro-PATH comments.

The evening session was very different.  It started out with quite good presentations opposing PATH by Senator Randy White and Delegates Hamilton, Donaldson-Smith and Poling.  Lorie Howley followed them with clear, concise and comprehensive comments and reasons why the WVPSC should dismiss the whole PATH proceeding and have PJM refile only IF and at such time that the whole end point in MD might be re-applied for.  The Commissioners listened politely without comment, but the mostly anti-PATH crowd was emboldened by the points Lorie made. Comments by the 2 people speaking in support of PATH were mere blips on the screen of the otherwise overwhelming opposition.