ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, May 22, 1996 TAG: 9605220004
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: R. DANIEL CARSON JR.
JEFF JANOSKO made some fairly serious accusations in his April 29 letter to the editor (``AEP tries to buy favor with officials'') relative to American Electric Power's motivation for donating a tract of land to the College of Health Sciences.
He characterized this gift as using corporate money for the purpose of influencing public opinion, citing it as an example of the means used by AEP and other companies to "steal" the voices and rights of others by "buying support.'' Janosko noted that the president of the college, Dr. Harry Nickens, serves as a member of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors.
Janosko's opposition to AEP's proposal to construct a 765-kilovolt transmission line into the Roanoke area is well understood, and was also indicated by his letter.
Like other businesses, AEP has strived for many years to be a good corporate citizen by working to preserve and enhance the quality of life in the communities it's privileged to serve. The company understands that it can prosper only as these communities prosper. AEP's contributions, and those of its employees through the AEP Employees' Benevolent Association, reach a lengthy and wide-ranging list of institutions. These include colleges, fire and rescue squads, and human-service, arts and cultural organizations.
The donation cited by Janosko resulted from an inquiry by Nickens as to the existence and availability of a tract of land suitable for the college. AEP did indeed have a tract it no longer needed - a tract that Nickens could utilize. The College of Health Sciences was in need. This need and AEP's donation of the land was well-publicized. Janosko's criticism should be considered in its proper context: that of his absolute opposition to a power-line project whose merit, or lack thereof, will be determined by the appropriate state and federal governmental agencies.
With regard to the power-line proposal, Janosko also attacked the Coalition for Energy and Economic Revitalization (CEER) as an organization whose "members are AEP employees and private contractors who work for AEP."
In fact, CEER is comprised of more than 500 business, labor, civic and governmental bodies that support AEP's power-line proposal as an infrastructure improvement that will be necessary to a strong economy within our region of the country. AEP has facilitated the development of the CEER organization, recognizing that a large number of people and institutions have this interest in common. CEER members have contributed to its standing through their direct participation in recruitment, community discussions, testimony, and meetings with various governmental agencies.
R. Daniel Carson Jr. is president of the Virginia and Tennessee American Electric Power Co. Inc.
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