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Berkeley County Commission adopts resolution opposing Valley Link 'Valley North' transmission project
Summary
The Berkeley County Commission voted to formally oppose Valley Link Transmission LLC's proposed 'Valley North' transmission line, citing property-rights, environmental, visual and property-value concerns and urging residents to contact ValleyLink and the West Virginia Public Service Commission.
The Berkeley County Commission voted to adopt a resolution formally opposing the Valley Link Transmission LLC ‘‘Valley North’’ project as presented in the draft before the body.
The draft resolution, read aloud by the presiding officer, described the proposal as an approximately 260-mile transmission corridor with associated substations and the need for new rights-of-way across private property. The resolution said those changes could “permanently alter the rural agricultural and scenic character” of affected land, diminish property values, disturb wildlife habitat and create visual and environmental impacts that cannot be undone once construction occurs. The presiding officer said the draft resolution would "formally oppose the Valley Link Transmission Valley North project as currently proposed." (County Administrator Gary Wine had presented the draft to the commission.)
Commissioners who spoke in favor framed the vote as protecting property rights and local quality of life. One commissioner said he had been contacted by many residents and that "not a single 1 is in favor of the transmission line," and another urged residents to contact ValleyLink and the West Virginia Public Service Commission, which the presiding officer described as the forum that will make routing decisions. County Administrator Gary Wine prefaced the item by noting that staff drafted the resolution after requests from residents: "As you're aware, many of you spoken to me and asked that we craft a resolution for the commission to take a position, with regard to the Valley Lane transmission line."
A motion to adopt the resolution was made, seconded, and approved by voice vote; the presiding officer declared "Ayes have it." The record does not include a roll-call tally in the transcript. The commission did not record amendments or conditions in the meeting transcript and did not direct specific follow-up steps beyond encouraging public outreach to ValleyLink and the state Public Service Commission.
