MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- The Monongalia County Commission has voted to oppose a proposed power line that would cut through the county, saying the planned route should be altered to keep it from harming property values.

Allegheny Energy is proposing to build a 500-kilovolt line from Pennsylvania to Loudoun County, Va., to meet projected electricity demands. About 114 miles of the line would pass through West Virginia.

Monongalia County commissioners voted 2-1 on Monday to oppose the project. Commission President Bob Bell and Commissioner John Pyles voted against the project. Commissioner Asel Kennedy opposed the motion saying the commission has no jurisdiction over the line's routing.

"I see no interest to the citizens of Monongalia County," Mr. Bell said. "I think Allegheny has used a cheap means to transmit power to urban areas.

"You heard that song, you get the gold mine, we get the shaft. I think as we look at this, this is where we are."

Greensburg, Pa.-based Allegheny Energy filed an application in March with the state Public Service Commission seeking approval of the $1.3 billion line's path through West Virginia. The company has said West Virginia and other states could see blackouts and brownouts as early as 2011 if the line isn't built.

Mr. Kennedy said he'd like the commission to work with Allegheny Power or the PSC to change the route.

But Mr. Pyles said public officials have a responsibility to take stands on issues that affect their constituents.

"We shouldn't suffer the burden of the power line coming through when it could be better placed somewhere else," Mr. Pyles said.

The company has said the route was selected after careful study.