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Regional Power Line Killed After 5 Years Of Plans

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- An effort to build a $2 billion regional power transmission line from West Virginia to Maryland has officially ended.

The board of regional power grid planner PJM Interconnection has formally removed the project from future plans. A spokesman tells the Frederick News Post the final decision to kill the project was made Friday.

PJM Interconnection's staff recommended on Aug. 9 that the power line was no longer needed. The staff said a slow economy has reduced demand for electricity. More power generation also has become available.

Environmental groups are celebrating the cancellation.

The 765-kilovolt Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline, known as PATH, was proposed in 2007 to meet expected growing demand for electricity in the 13-state region overseen by PJM.

The line would have run through West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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