Without question, citizens of Northern Virginia do not agree on everything, but we don't feel we're going too far out on a limb to say that there is almost universal agreement about Allegheny and Dominion Virginia Power's plan to erect a 240-mile, 500kv transmission line from Southern Pennsylvania to the Loudoun substation near Arcola.

Whether we live in Middleburg, Aldie, Stone Ridge or any other town or village in Fauquier, Loudoun or Clarke counties, the answer is "no!"

We work diligently to protect our historic and environmentally sensitive areas, and no towers of electric power are going to blight this beautiful landscape without a fight of impressive proportions. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this fight, the aspect that will shake the politicians to their core, will be the fact that, however much we disagree on other points, on this one, we stand together.

Dominion representatives say the new line is needed to provide power for Northern Virginia, but, when pressed, company officials admitted that Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Maryland and New York City would be the recipients.

Should we, as taxpayers, pay to construct this monstrosity? Absolutely not.

As Congressman Frank Wolf says, this is one of the most protected landscapes in America, and it must stay that way. Although Senator Allen's wife sits on the Dominion board of directors, we recommend he step up to the plate and side with us and against this outrage. If it causes him heartburn at home, so be it.

We are not going to stand by as greedy power companies work together to destroy our heritage.