The West Virginia Public Service Commission held three public hearings about the controversial proposed Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) Tuesday and Wednesday at Shepherd University’s Frank Arts?Center.

PATH is slated to cross through three states and make its way through portions of southern Jefferson County.

The PSC – made up of members John McKinney, Michael Albert and Ed Staats – is charged with deciding whether to approve an application for the 765 kilovolt powerline filed by Allegheny Energy and American Electric Power.

The group heard testimony this week from those in favor of and those against the project, which would run from southern West Virginia to Kemptown, Md. The hearings mark the official beginning of the required public input process for the project. A series of PATH informational public open houses were held last summer.

A total of 11 public PSC hearings about PATH are slated to take place across the state. Other venues include Buchannon, Davis and Charleston.

– Naomi Smoot