Planners Say PATH Power Line To Md. No Longer Needed
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Regional power grid planners say a proposed $2 billion transmission line from West Virginia to Maryland is no longer needed.
PJM Interconnection's Transmission Planning Staff says a slow economy has reduced demand for electricity. Planners also say more generation has become available.
Media outlets say the planning staff announced its recommendation Wednesday. The PJM Board will consider the recommendation on Aug. 24.
The 765-kilovolt Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline, known as PATH, was proposed in 2007 to meet expected growing demand for electricity in the 13-state region overseen by PJM.
American Electric Power and FirstEnergy Corp. suspended plans to build the line in 2011.
The line would run from AEP's John Amos plant in West Virginia, across three counties in northern Virginia, to a substation near Kemptown, Md.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
