A ‘modest’ proposal for protecting the resource

A proposal by the Pegasus Electrical Utility Commission of Canada is being presented to the three states that share the Delaware River: New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The proposal is urging a way to carry much needed electricity from Canada to Utica, New York and thence to New York City over lines that would be placed along the Norfolk Railroad line that travels along the Delaware River valley.

Since the railroad beds already exist between Utica, New York and New York City, the idea has a strong appeal to the electricity people and New York City officials.

The only problem is that we in the valley—businesses, residents, visitors—would be adversely affected by such a plan.

Imagine what it would look like. Large electrical superstructures like rude sentinels lining the river valley with high tension wires drooping between uprights all along our beautiful river valley.

Why us? Why don’t they just put the wires along the existing Marcy South, which covers the exact desired line, but not along the river valley?

The answer they give is that these lines will carry direct current. Marcy South carries alternating current and the two mix like water and oil. The technical people say the electrical magnetic fields resulting from the two currents together would be impossible to maintain.

Ergo, our valley.

This all comes conveniently for the utilities just after the biggest blackout in our country’s history.

Also, why is it necessary to erect ugly towering superstructures to carry the wires? Why couldn’t the wires be buried next to the tracks out of sight and out of mind?

Apparently, that is an option that is being considered. We feel that this is the best option.

We would even welcome such a project because it would mean considerable needed income for our towns and townships.

It is unthinkable that our valley would be adversely affected in such a degrading way after an enormous effort on the part of our towns twenty years ago to write the Management Plan of the Upper Delaware River and the efforts of countless people since then to have it religiously followed – up to now.

Are we, the people of the valley, going to allow this? Can’t we insist that the wires be buried beneath the ground, thus maintaining the beauty of our valley? We think we can and we think we will. Please help us accomplish this. Support an underground installation of this wire with tax revenues for the towns.

Tom Kane, staff writer