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Grice Family Continues To Challenge VELCO's Power Lines

photo by Dale Piper Disputed section of VELCO’s Northwest Reliability Project in New Haven. Existing 115 kv power transmission lines behind the poles for the new 345 kv lines.

Tuesday March 28, 2006

By Dale Piper

    The dispute goes on regarding VELCO's Northwest Reliability Project, involving the installation of 345 kv transmission lines, virtually the length of Addison County.  Foremost in the dispute is Middlebury's Harley Grice, retired farmer and owner of land in Middlebury and New Haven, along with his three daughters, Wendy Butler, Penny Curler and Heather Grice.  The Grice farm has been in the family for generations and would be impacted in a major way if the power lines are permitted to go through as planned.

The view through a picture window in the Grice farmhouse is of a wooded knoll about 300 yards behind the house, a knoll that would be largely denuded to allow space for the lines strung on 90 foot wooden poles.   According to Grice, his dealings with VELCO began in the early 1980s, when the company wanted to buy 200 feet of right-of-way in addition to the existing 150 feet that already crossed the land.  Grice declined the offer, but the company returned four years ago reducing their request to 100 feet.  Payment was offered based on appraisals done in the Northeast Kingdom many years before, which would not have reflected current Addison County land value.  Again, Grice refused, but retained the services of attorney Jim Dumont of Middlebury.

Since that time, VELCO has instituted a condemnation process, under the law of eminent domain, to secure the additional right-of-way.  Part of their demands is that they be allowed access to the Grice land at any point on the property at any time, and the ability to cut whatever trees they feel interfere with their proposed power lines.  Grice and his daughters feel this is an unacceptable intrusion.  Dumont has filed suit in Addison County Superior Court and with the Vermont Public Service Board, disputing, among other things, the jurisdiction of the board versus the courts and the question of whether or not VELCO indeed has the right to exercise eminent domain.  At issue as well is the fact that voice, data and other telecommunication lines would also be strung on these poles, none of which support the claim of eminent domain.  Both cases are pending.

The family feels that in addition to the effect that the power lines have on property value and quality of life, there may indeed be health issues that impact residents, livestock and wildlife that are not yet fully understood.  According to Wendy Butler, “We don't know what the effect is, do we?  How long did it take to discover that mercury and asbestos were very harmful after years and years of use?”   Grice, whose wife, Marilyn, passed away this past winter after a long illness, added,  “How can we be sure that the power lines that are here already didn't cause Marilyn's cancer?  We can't.”

The poles are indeed large.  Several have already been installed in New Haven and can be seen from River Road and Hunt Road.  Grice feels that the intrusion onto private land could be made more acceptable if the lines were buried within the existing right-of-way.  In fact, as part of the project, 115 kv lines are being buried in Shelburne and larger 345 kv lines have already been successfully buried in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Grice and his family also object to what they feel is a cavalier attitude on the part of VELCO, trucking the mammoth poles along back roads including Halpin Road, which is posted with a 24,000 lb. weight limit.  They have also observed heavy, loaded dump trucks and tractor-trailers hauling large excavating equipment over the same roads, when it seems that they could reach their destinations via Route 7 and more major paved roads.

When contacted for their position, VELCO had no comment, stating that “… the issue is in litigation and we don't comment out of courtesy to the Grice family.”

On April 29 at 7:00 p.m. friends of the Grice family and their cause have planned an event to raise public awareness of the issue and their efforts. It will take place at the New Haven Town Hall and will feature Tim Price's band.  Donations will be accepted toward legal fees.

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