Chronology of the project
March 1990
AEP announces Wyoming-Cloverdale 765 kV transmission line project.
August 1990
Universities Study Team (Virginia Tech and West Virginia University) formed to identify best route for power line.
March 1991
AEP files application for Special Use Permit with U.S. Forest Service, lead federal agency among U.S. Park Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Forest Service to study environmental impact of transmission line crossing of Jefferson National Forest and prepare Environmental Impact Statement.
August 1991
Application for Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity filed with Virginia State Corporation Commission. Environmental Assessment filed in November 1991.
June 1992
Application for Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity filed with West Virginia Public Service Commission. Withdrawn in August 1992 at request of PSC and refiled in February 1993.
July 1992
U.S. Congress Designates 19.2 miles of the New River (between Glen Lyn, Va., and Bluestone Lake, W. Va.) as a study area for wild and scenic river status under federal guidelines.
February 1993
AEP announces the formation of the Coalition for Energy and Economic Revitalization in support of line. Application for power line certificate refiled with West Virginia PSC.
May 1993
West Virginia PSC dismisses refiled application and decides to await Forest Service completion of Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
December 1995
Virginia SCC issues Interim Order citing compelling need for additional electric capacity and directs AEP to file additional information on alternate routing, regional transmission improvements and use and benefit to Virginia ratepayers.
May 1996
U.S. Park Service recommends denial of proposed power line crossing of the New River in Wild and Scenic study area.
June 1996
U.S. Forest Service releases Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and states its preliminary preference for no action, which would deny permit to build line through Jefferson National Forest if it stands in the final EIS.
August 1996
U.S. Department of Energy files Report to the President on The Electric Power Outages in the Western United States, July 2-3. Report also cites threats to reliability in mid-Atlantic area due to delays in approval of AEP transmission line.
August 1996
U.S. Department of Energy requests three reliability councils, in coordination with the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), to study impacts of the delayed completion of the Wyoming-Cloverdale line. The councils are the East Central Area Reliability Coordination Agreement (ECAR), the Mid-Atlantic Area Council (MAAC), and the Southeastern Electric Reliability Council (SERC).
March 1997
The reliability councils, ECAR, MAAC, SERC and NERC, file their report Reliability Impact of the Delayed Completion of the Wyoming-Cloverdale 765 kV line to the U.S. Department of Energy.
The report concluded there is a power supply reliability risk in southwestern Virginia and southern West Virginia. The report stated, "The addition of the Wyoming-Cloverdale 765 kV line is an effective alternative for serving AEPs West Virginia and Virginia service areas as well as mitigating the risk of potential widespread power interruptions."
September 1997
AEP files its application for certification to construct the Wyoming-Cloverdale line in West Virginia and Virginia. The filings include a modified route for the project as identified by the Universities Study Team.
May 1998
The Public Service Commission of West Virginia approves construction of the 765 kV Wyoming - Cloverdale line along the preferred corridor in West Virginia.
September 1998
Virginia SCC order directs AEP to fully develop the Wyoming-Jacksons Ferry 765 kV alternative. Report due June 1, 1999.
May 1999
AEP files Wyoming-Jacksons Ferry 765 kV alternative with the SCC.
October 1999
SCC sets evidentiary hearing date for May 1, 2000.
May 2000
Evidentiary hearing conducted in Richmond.
October 2, 2000
SCC hearing examiner finds 765 kV project needed, recommends approval of
Wyoming-Jacksons Ferry 765 kV project.
October 27, 2000
AEP requests PSC of West Virginia to amend order granting approval of Wyoming-Cloverdale 765 kV line. Company requests PSC approval of project to either Cloverdale or Jacksons Ferry.
May 31, 2001
Virginia SCC issues final order approving construction of the 765 kV Wyoming-Jacksons Ferry line.
March 13, 2002
West Virginia Public Service Commission amends its 1998 Wyoming-Cloverdale 765 kV project order and approves the project's construction from Wyoming Station in West Virginia to Jacksons Ferry Station in Virginia.
April 24, 2002
US Forest Service Supervisor makes a draft recommendation to allow AEP's 765 kV project to cross federal lands along its preferred corridor.
December 31, 2002
US Forest Service issues its Environmental Impact Statement for the Wyoming-Jacksons Ferry project. The EIS includes a record of decision that recommends that the project be allowed to cross federal lands.
December 2003
Right of way clearing begins for the project.
April 2004
Tower foundation preparation begins, construction underway.
August 2004
First tower on project erected
April 2005
Chinook Helicopter sets towers on WV end of the project
October 2005
The last of 333 towers is erected on the 90-mile project. The project now focuses on wire stringing and land reclamation.
May 8, 2006
AEP dedicates the line as the completion date nears. Hundreds gather in a Wythe County farm for the event. Speakers include Govs. Kaine and Manchin, US Rep. Joe Barton, Texas, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, and FERC Chairman Joseph Kelliher.
June 20 , 2006
Wyoming-Jacksons Ferry project is energized.
