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It’s rare to find an issue these days that doesn’t divide public opinion, as political differences in our country have become so strongly entrenched. One current issue in West Virginia, however, is uniting both Democrats and Republicans - in opposition.
The Valley Link transmission line project, which would run through 18 West Virginia counties, including Randolph, Upshur, Tucker and Barbour, is bringing together political leaders from both sides of the aisle to work to defeat the proposal.
The Tucker, Upshur and Randolph county commissions have all voted separately to pass resolutions opposing the project, and many more counties across the state have joined in as well.
State Senators Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur, and Robbie Morris, R-Randolph, have both gone public in voicing their opposition to the transmission project. Upshur County delegates Carl "Robbie" Martin and Adam Burkhammer have also spoken out against the project.
Even highly acclaimed PBS documentary filmmaker Ken Burns - who is not a West Virginia native and doesn’t live here, but does value the state’s historical significance – has joined the voices opposing the Valley Link project, a proposed 260-mile, 765-kilovolt transmission line that would connect the John E. Amos Power Plant in Putnam County to Frederick County, Maryland.
Many opponents say the project would provide no money -- or even electricity -- for the state, and would not compensate property owners for the use of their land.
The Randolph County Commission resolution states that “it is assumed the project will negatively impact” property owners, and that the commission “recognizes the value of private property rights.”
“The use of imminent domain to condemn private property for a line that primarily serves out-of-state interests would irreparably harm Randolph County citizens” and “would transfer no compensatory benefits on local residents,” the resolution reads.
At this point, it’s difficult to see who in West Virginia does support the project, other than the companies behind it. The project is a joint venture of Dominion Energy, FirstEnergy Transmission and Transource Energy.
Project officials say the "new infrastructure will bring electricity to where it's needed most and unlock new opportunities for communities along the route," according to the Valley Link website. The project would erect high-tension, high-voltage power lines that would stretch across the Mountain State, with towers anywhere from 150 to 174 feet tall.
The Valley Link site also says the project will "strengthen the resilience of the energy system, helping it withstand extreme weather and unexpected challenges," and benefit communities in terms of construction jobs.
At this point, however, many local leaders feel the project’s alleged benefits would not outweigh the alleged damages.