Grassroots Group Defeats AEP Transmission Project in Arkansas Save the Ozarks is celebrating a big victory in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, this evening! Today, AEP subsidiary Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) withdrew its application for a permit from the Arkansas Public Service Commission, citing: SWEPCO received a notification letter from SPP stating that updated electric load forecasts showing lower future electric demand in North Arkansas than prior forecasts for the area critical to the Facilities, and the recent cancellation of several large, long-term transmission service reservations, establish that the Facilities are no longer needed to meet the reliability needs in the region. The withdrawn transmission project was a 60-mile, 345kV monster proposed to plow through the Ozarks as part of a plan developed in 2007. 2007? Thats 8 years ago! Isnt it funny that SPP continued to find a need for this project, until the Arkansas Public Service Commission made clear that it wasnt likely to approve it. Suddenly, SPP had an epiphany on load forecasts and transmission service reservations. How convenient. Except, thats exactly the same thing that happened with AEPs PATH transmission line when Virginia state regulators became suspicious and ordered further studies by regional grid planner PJM Interconnection. This is how a regional planning organization and a transmission owner fall on their collective sword. How are electric consumers supposed to believe a thing these transmission cartels say anymore? Its quite clear that transmission planning organizations are conditioned to simply rubber stamp the transmission building whims of their members. If nobody resists, then the project gets built. However, the folks of NW Arkansas resisted... and formed Save the Ozarks. Under the competent leadership of Pat Costner, retired Greenpeace scientist, Save the Ozarks demonstrated that its all about a big, loud, committed, very public opposition. This is what wins transmission permitting battles, not lawyers, legal processes or polite demurral to power company public relations campaigns. Its about making the transmission project political poison and telling the public the truth. Pat knew exactly what to do and she did it with style and dignity! So, Congratulations, Save the Ozarks! Enjoy your victory for a few days before you start wondering about who is going to pay for SWEPCO and SPPs big oops. And for my friends at AEP... heres mud in your eye! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, its the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead stoppathwv/1/post/2014/12/grassroots-group-defeats-aep-transmission-project-in-arkansas.html#comments https://youtube/watch?v=rY0WxgSXdEE
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 18:32:01 +0000
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