More than 100 people attended a public meeting Tuesday at Buckhannon-Upshur High School on the proposed Potomac-Allegheny Transmission Highline route that cuts through the center of Upshur County. In addition to Upshur, the proposed line will run through portions of 13 West Virginia counties including Lewis, Barbour, Preston, Tucker, Grant, Hardy, Putnam, Kanawha, Roane, Braxton, Calhoun, Hampshire and Jefferson.

In Upshur, the line is proposed to come across from southern Lewis County through Ireland and into Upshur near Straight Fork. The line will continue northeast around the West Virginia State Wildlife Center, through Frenchton, French Creek, Sago, Tallmansville and Mt. Nebo areas before passing into neighboring Barbour County.

Although not in attendance, energy companies have said the 280-mile, 765-kilovolt line is needed to strengthen the regional transmission grid and to address concerns about the availability of electrical power to its customers.

An overwhelming number of people at Tuesday's meeting are steadfastly against the proposed line. Those in attendance listened intently to guest speaker Bill Howie of Calhoun County who has been researching the proposed line and established a blog (www.calhounpowerline.wordpress.com) about the project several months ago. "Even though the chips are stacked against us, it is important to speak out if you are against PATH," Howie said. "The only ability we have is to make noise and make people nervous."

He also encouraged people to become intervenors through the West Virginia Public Service Commission and "become party to the case." An intervenor is anyone with a legal interest and who would be effected by the line. He said people should educate themselves and be informed on the proposed line, attend public hearings, sign petitions and let your legislators know your feelings.

According to Howie, these power lines have been in the making for 10 years and are part of PJM Interconnections "Project Mountaineer."

"Essentially these are big extension cords across West Virginia," Howie said. "This game is much bigger than just West Virginia."

According to Howie, PJM, the regional grid operator directing the construction of PATH, currently has about 55 million electrical customers.

Application was made May 15, to the West Virginia Public Service Commission by PATH for a certificate of need. The PSC has 400 days to respond to the request, he said.

The application and other case details can be found on the PSC Web site, www.psd.state.wv.us. The case number assigned to the project is 09-0770-E-CN. Information is also available at the Upshur County Library, the county commission office or online at www.pathtransmission.com/meetings/westvirginia.asp.

During the meeting area residents expressed concerns on how the line would decrease property values and/or eliminate homes and businesses all together, eliminate standing timber, public safety and overall health and the effect on operating and/or plug and abandoned gas wells along the path route.

"If you live anywhere near this line you should be following this process," he said. The route has a 2,200-foot corridor, from which the lines could go in either direction in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

Upshur County Commissioners have passed a resolution in opposition to the project that would run from the John Amos Power Plant near Winfield across West Virginia and into Maryland.

Information was available from the West Virginia Citizens Against PATH on a "Greenout" scheduled for Sunday. The fliers encouraged concerned residents to turn off all electricity in their homes for one hour beginning at 9 p.m. For more information visit, www.wvcitizensagainstpath.com