Opinion ID: 2794232
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Commission's Certificate Order

Text: Based on its review of the record and the Hearing Examiner's findings and recommendations, the Commission issued the November 26, 2013 order (the Certificate Order) granting the CPCNs to Dominion. After evaluating numerous alternatives offered for its consideration, the Commission found that [t]he engineering evidence in this case is overwhelming in establishing that the construction of an overhead 500 kV transmission line is the best way to address the needed upgrade to Dominion's electric system. The Commission then compared Dominion's two alternative 500 kV proposals: the Surry-Skiffes Creek Line and the Chickahominy-Skiffes Creek Line. The Commission concluded that the record supported the Hearing Examiner's findings that the Surry-Skiffes Creek Line 'is the least cost[ly] viable alternative for addressing the identified NERC reliability violations presented in this case, can be constructed in a timely manner, and is the best alternative in this case.' Further, the Commission cited and agreed with the Hearing Examiner's finding that the proposed Project reasonably minimize[ the] adverse impact on the scenic assets, historic 12 districts[,] and environment [in] the area concerned in accordance with Code § 56-46.1(B). The Commission also agreed with the Hearing Examiner's recommended approval of Variation 4 as the route for the SurrySkiffes Creek Line. The Commission found that the environmental and economic development considerations in particular favored Variation 4 over Variation 1. The Commission declined, however, to adopt the Hearing Examiner's recommendation for the contingency approval of Variation 1, should Dominion's negotiations with the EDA over the right-ofway prove fruitless. The Commission indicated that it fully expected Dominion and the EDA to complete the negotiations necessary for Variation 4. As to whether the construction of the Skiffes Creek Switching Station is subject to James City County's zoning ordinances, the Commission addressed the issue and concluded that the switching station constitutes a transmission line for purposes of Code § 56-46.1(F), and is thus exempt from the zoning ordinances. From an engineering standpoint . . . the Skiffes Creek Switching Station will be an electrically, physically, and operationally inseparable part of several high voltage transmission lines, the Commission explained. The Commission reasoned, [t]he Skiffes Creek Switching Station enables a number of transmission circuits to be completed and 13 connected through transformers and other associated equipment. The Commission thus concluded that the transmission line CPCNs would include the Skiffes Creek Switching Station. Accordingly, in the Certificate Order, the Commission approved the Project for the construction of the 500 kV SurrySkiffes Creek Line with Variation 4, the Skiffes Creek Switching Station and the 230 kV Skiffes Creek-Whealton Line.