Public meetings on a proposed more than 300 mile power transmission line project are scheduled for the next three weeks throughout West Virginia.

As proposed, the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) would run from American Electric Power's John Amos Plant in Putnam County through Allegheny Energy's Bedington Substation in the Eastern Panhandle to Kemptown, Maryland.

"PATH is needed to address a series of potential line overloads," says Allegheny Energy Manager of External Communications Doug Colafella.  "Our grid is operating at the, really operating at the brink right now of overloading in various places.  Specifically, there are a number of high voltage transmission lines that cross West Virginia that are within just a few years of being overloaded."

No route has been selected for the proposed transmission line, a joint project from Allegheny Power and AEP, at this point.  But Colafella says that decision will be made by the end of the year when the application for the project is submitted to the State Public Service Commission.

Possible route maps will be part of the public meetings.  Several routes are being considered.  "We welcome folks to come in, learn about the need for PATH as well as take a look at the maps, see where the alternate routes and we're eager to get input on those routes," Colafella says.

The transmission line is scheduled to go into service in the Year 2012.

"We need PATH to provide additional capacity within the system, to insure that our regional power grid can support businesses and consumers in the decades ahead as demand grows."

This project is separate from Allegheny's TrAIL project, a 210 mile project schedule for completion in 2011.  TrAIL is designed to address overloads projected as early as 2011 while company officials say PATH will prevent potential overloads on additional lines forecasted by 2012. 

A public meeting on PATH was scheduled for Monday night at the Bicentennial Inn in Buckhannon.  Tuesday's meeting is scheduled for the American Legion Post 29 in Elkins.  Wednesday's meeting is scheduled for the Mount Storm Fire Hall in Grant County, while Thursday's meeting will be held at the South Branch Inn in Romney.  All of the meetings will run from five o'clock until eight o'clock.

Next week, public meetings will be held on Monday in Institute, on Tuesday in Davis and on Wednesday in Martinsburg.  On August 11th, a public meeting on PATH will be held at the South Branch Inn in Moorefield.