PPL unveils three possible power routes

New towers could be erected in Pike

By FRITZ MAYER

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA — In choosing possible routes for a new 500 kilovolt power line, PPL executives said they tried to intrude as little as possible into new territory.

David Schleicher, PPL’s vice president of transmission, said, “As much as practical, each possible route we chose follows existing power lines or existing power line rights of way. Building in those areas would mean that this new line would have much less impact on nearby residents and on the environment.”

However, each route would require the company to acquire some new rights of way.

Route A begins at the PPL Electric Utilities switching station near Berwick, and travels primarily on existing lines northeast through Wayne County. However, a section of newly built line would run through Pike County before crossing the Delaware River north of Milford. According to Paul Wirth, a spokesperson for PPL, Route A would run 60 percent along existing rights of way.

Route B follows Route A for much of the run, but departs from it at a point near Lake Wallenpaupack. Then it continues through the Delaware State Forest on the path of an existing power line, to cross the river near Bushkill. Route B would run about 90 percent along existing rights of way.

Route C would take a southern route and would cross the river north of Martins Creek. Route C would run about 60 percent along existing rights of way.

PJM Interconnection, the organization that operates the power grid that covers Pennsylvania, New Jersey and all or parts of 11 other states, says the new power line, which will run between Berwick and Roseland, NJ, is necessary to avoid overloads on the existing lines. PPL will be responsible for building the Pennsylvania portion of the $1 billion project, while Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) will build the New Jersey portion of the line.

Property owners in a 1,000-foot corridor along each possible route have been mailed letters with details of the routes and an invitation to attend one of eight workshops that PPL will sponsor, which also will be open to all members of the public.

“Public input and understanding are an extremely important part of the process we will use to pick a route,” said Schleicher. “We will consider all comments we receive before choosing a final route to propose to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for approval.”

Troy Bystrom of the Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition, which has been active in the campaign to stop the New York Regional Interconnection power line project from being constructed in New York, said, “We have looked at the maps and are looking forward to the public meetings to get specific route information regarding each of the three proposed routes. We are researching cultural, historic and environmental impacts along each of the proposed routes as well.”

The workshops, all of which will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., are scheduled as follows:

Monday, June 16: PPL East Mountain Business Center, 1190 East Mountain Drive, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702

Tuesday, June 17: Hilton Scranton & Conference Center, 100 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18503

Wednesday, June 1: Wallenpaupack Area High School, 2552 Route 6, Hawley, PA 18428

Thursday, June 19: Fernwood Resort & Conference Center, Route 209 and River Road, Bushkill, PA 18324

Monday, June 23: Berwick Area High School, 1100 Fowler Ave., Berwick, PA 18603

Tuesday, June 24: Tamaqua Community Center, 229 Center St. (rear), Tamaqua, PA 18252

Wednesday, June 25: Forks Township Community Center, 500 Zucksville Road, Easton, PA 18040

Thursday, June 26: Northampton Community Center, 1601 Laubach Ave., Northampton, PA 18067

Visit www.pplreliablepower.com for more information. Detailed maps can be viewed at www.pplreliablepower.com/projectupdates.htm