The State Corporation Commission case over Dominion Virginia Power’s Surry-Skiffes Creek line has been reopened.
Dominion filed a petition with the SCC on Dec. 16, asking for the case to be reopened. A day later, the commission ruled to reopen the case for reconsideration.
The line the commissioners approved in November crosses James City County Economic Development Authority land, and Dominion would need a right-of-way agreement with the EDA in order to build on the land. Dominion would pay the EDA $112,800 for a 150-foot strip of land to build the line over.
The only problem for Dominion is the EDA won’t give up the right-of-way until other property owners agree; that decision was originally made at a May EDA meeting. The decision was upheld by votes in July and December.
At the EDA’s Dec. 12 meeting representatives from BASF Corporation, a chemical company, and Williamsburg Developments Inc., a subsidiary of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation — both of which own surrounding land — voiced their opinions on the EDA agreement.
BASF preferred the power line the commissioners approved because it crossed the northern edge of the BASF property rather than cutting it down the middle. WDI was against the commission-approved line because the organization prefers the power line be built underground.
With the EDA right-of-way hinging on surrounding property owners, WDI’s objection prevented any agreement between the EDA and Dominion, and Dominion does not have power of eminent domain over the EDA.
Because an agreement could not be established between the EDA and Dominion, Dominion filed a request to have the case reopened.
“The Company has no choice but to seek relief from the Order’s selection of James River Crossing Variation 4 … as the route for the new 500 kV Surry-Skiffes Creek Line because, without the reconsideration and relief requested herein, the Company believes it will be unable to construct the Surry-Skiffes Creek Line…” Dominion’s filing reads.
The EDA is not the only obstacle in Dominion’s way. WDI has also declined to provide an easement unless the line is built under the river, “which would violate the Order’s express rejection of undergrounding that river crossing,” according to Dominion’s filing.
Dominion has asked the commissioners to either set a time limit for the EDA to sign a right-of-way agreement or to approve the line variation BASF objects. In place of the line that would bisect the BASF property, Dominion also asked the commissioners to consider a variation of the currently approved line — the line that does not bisect the BASF property — that would avoid EDA property.
The next step in the continued hearing is unclear.
Related Coverage:
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- JCC Thanks Williamsburg For Help in Fighting Overhead Power Line
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- JCC Files Opposition to SCC Hearing Examiner’s Report on Dominion Power Line
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- Closing Briefs Filed in Dominion Overhead Power Line SCC Case
- JCC Denies Site Plan Approval for Dominion’s Skiffes Creek Station; Still No Application Submitted for SUP
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- JCC Offer to Purchase Land for Dominion Not Rooted in Prior County Discussion
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- Evidentiary Hearing on Proposed Overhead Powerline to Begin Today
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