The need to rebuild and expand our nation's aging electric infrastructure has reached crisis proportions.

Experts such as the U.S. Department of Energy and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation agree that major investment in our electricity grid is one of the critical components necessary to prevent the looming energy crisis. Further, PJM Interconnection, the independent organization responsible for ensuring electric reliability in our region, believes we will face reliability issues by 2011 and, accordingly, has directed the construction of new transmission lines to keep the electricity flowing.

Electric infrastructure is crucial to the economic viability of our state. From energy independence and national security to local economic development and the retention of our existing businesses, a reliable electric delivery system is fundamental to all Pennsylvanians. Planning, permitting and constructing transmission lines takes years ... and time is running out.

As a result, efforts are underway to secure the continued reliability of our electric transmission infrastructure into the future and significantly upgrade Pennsylvania's electric grid.

West Virginians for Reliable Power — a diverse coalition of concerned citizens, business owners, government officials and labor leaders — was formed to support these projects and other efforts to expand and improve our electric infrastructure.

But we can't do it alone.

We need the support of other recognized leaders, like you, to help ensure that Pennsylvanians will have access to a reliable supply of electricity now and for years to come.