MSR 2002-2 - Public Service Commission of West Virginia

Public Service Commission — Management Summary Report
The Commission issued two orders on April 7, 2006 approving stipulations filed in the
respective cases. The Commission approved the asset swap in the first four cases and approved
the certificate and securitization financing in the remaining two.
Case Nos. 05-0402-E-CN and 05-0750-E-PC were reopened in October for consideration
of increased project costs.
Electric Generation Projects - During 2006, the Commission granted, with extensive
conditions, a siting certificate to locate a 186 MW windmill facility in Greenbrier County, on
a 100,000-acre tract owned by MeadWestvaco, which had previously been timbered and mined.
More than 100 1.5 MW wind turbines were approved, and the total cost was projected to be
$300 million. The project will create more than 200 temporary construction jobs and 15-20
permanent jobs with a $35,000 average annual salary. Further, it will result in $400,000 yearly
in tax revenue to Greenbrier County for 20 years and $200,000 yearly in tax revenue to the
state, as well as contribute to a growth in tourism. There was extensive public participation in
this case, and the Commission conducted two public comment hearings in Lewisburg and six
days of evidentiary hearings in Charleston. At year’s end, the Commission was deliberating
petitions to reconsider that decision.
The Commission held a hearing in December 2006 on another windmill project proposed
for construction in Pendleton County. If a siting certificate is granted, the facility would be
comprised of 50 wind turbines, each with a rated capacity of between 1,500 and 3,000 kilowatts,
and certain ancillary facilities, and an approximate 17.25 mile, 138 kV overhead transmission
line to interconnect the facility to the Allegheny Power System (APS) electric transmission
system. The total output of the Facility would be up to 125 megawatts. The general location of
the Facility is on the Jack Mountain ridge top approximately ten miles outside of Franklin in
Pendleton County, West Virginia. The Commission anticipates issuing its final decision on
the application in March 2007. This application is docketed as Case No. 05-1740-CS-CN and
the applicant is Liberty Gap Wind Force, LLC .
The Commission is currently considering Appalachian Power Company’s application for a
certificate of convenience and necessity to construct a 600 MW Integrated Gasification
Combined Cycle electric generating unit in Mason County in Case No. 06-0033-E-CN. A
hearing in this case scheduled for March 2007.
By a Commission Order entered June 26, 2006 the Commission granted the applications
of Longview Power, LLC for a Siting Certificate to authorize the construction and operation
of a 600 MW coal-fired electric power plant Wholesale Electric Generating Facility and for
a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the construction and installation of a
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