Stafford got Dominion line buried, with dignity

April 12, 2008 12:15 am

On April 8, the State Corporation Commission released its final order fully approving the underground construction of an experimental 230-kilovolt transmission line by Dominion Virginia Power in Stafford County ["Dominion will bury Stafford cable," April 9].

The 5-mile line will be built on a company-owned right of way between Aquia Harbour and a new substation near Garrisonville.

This is fantastic news. I want to thank everyone who participated in the professional engagement of the issue, which helped bring a win-win solution that will bring power to our community "the right way."

I thank the SCC officials for their willingness to fully research the issue, for listening to the debate, and for being open-minded. I am thankful for Dominion's excellent service and their willingness to try new engineering approaches in the form of underground burial.

I'm very proud of how Stafford residents rallied to support the underground option for bringing power into our area versus the proposed 13-story, high-voltage aboveground transmission lines.

I am thankful for the support of the Stafford Board of Supervisors, the School Board, sports associations, schools, churches, and neighborhood associations. I am extremely thankful for my fellow Towering Concerns team members and volunteers, who worked long and hard to help protect our community.

I am eternally grateful for the help from our leaders--especially Bill Howell, Mark Cole, Mark Dudenhefer, and Bob Gibbons.

I am very proud of the Stafford community and how much hard work everyone put into engaging Dominion to provide this outcome.

The SCC approval of the power-line burial shows that a winning solution can be accomplished by strong teamwork, community and government partnerships, a focus on taking the "high road," solid professionalism, and a commitment to do what is right. We all did a good thing.

Buddy Secor

Stafford

The writer is team leader for Towering Concerns.