Evening star., 1955-10-13
Pepco Loudoun Site
Backed by Virginia
Governor Says
State Will Help
On River Plant
BY ALEX r. PRESTON

With Maryland bidding for
Potomac Electric Power Co.'S
new 800 million generating
plant. top-level Endorsement Of
the project came today from
Virginia, which apparently holds
the edge in the controversy.
Gov. Stanley Of Virginia issued
a statement declaring the Old
Dominion viii give every proper
assistance" to the company in
advancing its plans to establish
the plant in Loudoun County.
Pepco favors the Loudoun
County site which is on the Po-
tomac River upstream from the
District of Columbia water sup
ply intake. Army engineers for
the District have objected on
the grounds that the tenn
perattre of the water will be
raised. thus encouraging bacteria
growth. This is regarded as q
form Of pollution for Washing
tons water supply.
Governors Statement
The Governors ONCE III Rich
mond today told The Star:
THE Commonwealth Of Vir.
gina is very much interested in
giving every proper assistance to
the Potomac Electric Power Co.
in its plans to build a generating
plant in Loudoun County.
THE State Corporation Com
mission has approved the project
and ! am informed the State
Water Control Board also has
been acquainted with the plans
Of the company and viii give its
full cooperation when engineer
ing details are completed. Thus,
all agencies Of the. State having
any responsibility in connection
with the project are giving full
and prompt cooperation to the
end that construction may be
expedited.
THE plant location is such
that 1t could be Of great impor-
tance to the safety and security
of the Nationay Government in
event Of q defense emergency.
This is one Of the prime reasons
we are endeavoring to cooperate
to the fullest possible extent in
clearing the way for It's con-
struction."
Loudoun County officials as
well as the State also want the
project because Of the huge
amount Of local and State taxes
Pepco would pay on the project.
Site Above Flood Stage
At a recent hearing before the
State Corporation Commission,
George Bisset, senior vice presi.
dent Of the utility. said the
Loudoun County site is the only
one availableA above the food
stage of the Potomac. thus not
subject to inundation.
He said the three plants at
Buzzards Point. Benning and at
Alexandria, Va, are so close to
the center Of the Capital that
they could be knocked out by
one large atomic bomb while the
Loudoun County site is about
rs miles from the center Of the
city. thus it is not as subject to
destruction.
He also testified that the added
generating facilities are needed
to service the rapidlys expanding
northwest sector" of pepco's
franchise area. including Mont
gomery County Md.
It was this last detail that
Inquired in Maryland's protest.
Maryland officials naturally
would like to obtain the tax
revenue and have contended that
"a facility designed to serve por-
tons Of that State should nav
taxes to- Maryland.
Some Maryland officials also
have raised the point that the
Free State, and not Virginia.
owns the Potomac River to the
high water mark on the Vir-
|ginia shore. It is contended by
these officials that Maryland's
permission may first have to be
obtained to use Potomac River
waters. even though the plant is
located on the Virginia side.
This issue involves the doctrine
OF riparian rights and has not
been settled.