A second Allegheny Power substation is being considered at 502 Junction in Greene County, near Mt. Morris, PA as part of this project. A federal transmission organization, PJM, has already approved the planning concept.

PJM Interconnection is a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) that manages electricity transmission services for a region that includes approximately 51 million people in all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

The new 500-kilovolt electric transmission line and substation extending from southwestern Pennsylvania to existing substations at Mt. Storm, WV, and Meadow Brook, VA, along with an interconnection with Dominion Virginia Power and continuing east to Dominion's Loudoun substation in Northern Virginia will be constructed by 2011, officials say.

Approvals from state and federal agencies will be required, but Allegheny Power says it was these agencies which notified the company of the power grid deficiencies in the first place.

Allegheny and Dominion will each construct the line in their respective transmission zones. Approximately 210 miles of the new line will be within Allegheny's zone. Of the total projected cost of $1.3 billion, Allegheny Power's obligation will be approximately $820 million.

While Allegheny Power has dedicated a Web site to the project, (www.aptrailinfo.com), it has yet to approach North Strabane officials with a proposal that can be examined and evaluated, said Township Manager Frank Siffrinn. "The company does own property in North Strabane and 4-5 different alignments have been looked at," Siffrinn said. "But we've heard nothing on preferred alignments and they have not submitted a plan.

"Based on the zoning ordinance and the property they own, it would be difficult for the township to oppose the project. But as the plans proceed, they would have to get permission from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) and four states as well.

The company owns about 300 acres in North Strabane, between Linden and Thomas-Eighty Four roads, bounded by Long Drive. It will likely be here that the substation is constructed.

"Obviously they would have to meet the requirements of the municipality," Siffrinn said.

A meeting is planned with Allegheny Power and North Strabane officials on March 14. That meeting won't be open to the public, but Siffrinn said township officials hope to have a better idea of Allegheny Power's intent afterwards.

"It's hard to object on an agreement until Allegheny Power files papers with the PUC," said Pennsylvania Rep. Tim Solobay (D-Canonsburg). "I'd say that 90 percent of the right-of-way within the Pennsylvania portion of the project is already owned by Allegheny Power. There's also a long process of hearings at the PUC and federal submissions have to be made. The portion of the line within Pennsylvania will not be part of the federal package.

"The power grid here is definitely being drawn on and there's no question that there's an increased need in Pennsylvania as well" Solobay said. "Yes, we have to see the plans first. Yes, some are going to oppose whatever plan is moved forward, but the company already owns most of the property," Solobay said.