06.16.04
Power line committee to hold first meeting
BY SCOTT MONROE, STOWE REPORTER

Stowe’s Power line Advisory Committee, a group formed recently that will offer advice to town officials on a proposal to run a controversial power line through the southern end of town, will meet for the first time today at 6 p.m. in the banquet room of the Akeley Memorial Building.

Stowe’s Select Board on Monday approved the final roster for the group. The committee now includes: Paul Percy and Lynn Altadonna of the planning commission, Dick Marron and Heidi Scheuermann of the select board, David Jaqua of the conservation commission, Mike Hiss and Peter Beddow, residents of Black Bear Run, Elaine Nichols of Shaw Hill Road, Sande Immediato of Marshall Road, Katie Antos-Ketchum of Holmes Road, and Charlie Adams of Cady Hill Road.

The meeting is open to the public because all designated subcommittees are subject to the open meetings law.

Select board members noted that the Town of Shelburne created a similar committee to study a proposed power line, but said Stowe is a different case because the Shelburne line was just passing through the town.

“The main issue here in our community is that a power line is coming in and being used,” said Dick Marron, the select board’s chairman, “and we’re the ones having to pay for it.”

Meanwhile, Vermont Electric Power Company, the organization that is proposing the power upgrade, on June 12 officially filed an application with all regional planning commissions. VELCO must now wait until July 27 before submitting an application for final approval before Vermont’s Public Service Board.

The Stowe committee will advise the town on different options for the proposed 115-kilovolt power line. The line is needed to handle growing development and current use in Lamoille County. The current proposal would have the lining running parallel to an existing 34.5-kilovolt line along the Route 100 corridor, from Blush Hill Road in Waterbury to Stowe, near the Moscow intersection.

Many Stowe residents have opposed the line, saying the 58-foot-high towers and lines (the towers are currently 37 feet) will be an eyesore and the right of way that will be needed will further encroach on private property.

Officials have discussed other options such as running the power line through Mount Mansfield State Forest in Waterbury or burying the line in certain locations.

VELCO officials say their proposal is the least expensive and best solution to handle the growing power needs in the county. The upgrade would cost an estimated $13.4 million, of which $3 million would be paid for by other electric utilities in New England. The Stowe electric department is expected to foot most of the remaining $10 million because Stowe is a main beneficiary.

DOCKET 7032
CASE SCHEDULE

02.09.05
Public hearing

02.18.05
Deadline for intervention requests

03.10.05
Site visit

03.18.05
Last date for filing discovery requests on petitioners

03.28.05
Last date for petitioners’ prefiled direct testimony and exhibits

04.11.05
All parties other than petitioners prefile direct testimony and exhibits

05.02.05
Last day to serve discovery on April 11 prefiled testimony and exhibits

05.12.05
Last day for discovery responses

05.23.05
All parties prefile rebuttal testimony and exhibits

06.03.05
Last day to serve discovery on rebuttal prefiled testimony and exhibits

06.13.05
Last day for responses to rebuttal discovery

06.27.05
All parties prefile surrebuttal testimony and exhibits

07.06.05
Technical hearing

07.07.05
Technical hearing

07.08.05
Technical hearing

07.18.05 (week of)
Technical hearings

08.08.05
Briefs due

08.22.05
Reply briefs due

10.19.05
Proposal for decision issued

11.04.05
Comments due on proposal for decision

12.07.05
Oral argument on proposal for decision

BOARD SCHEDULING ORDER (PDF)

SCHEDULE CHANGE MEMO OF 04.14.05 (PDF)