Hearings on power line set
PPL project runs through Northeast Pa.
The state Public Utility Commission will hold two public hearings Thursday in Thornhurst on a proposed new PPL Electric Utilities power line running from Luzerne County to Wayne County.
Hearings will be held at 2 and 6 p.m. at the Thornhurst Volunteer Fire Company on PPL's planned Northeast-Pocono Reliability Project. If approved by the PUC, the 58-mile, 230-kilovolt line would run from Jenkins Twp. near Pittston to Paupack Twp. near Lake Wallenpaupack.
The $200 million project would improve service to more than 50,000 homes and businesses in parts of Carbon, Lackawanna. Luzerne, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties, according to PPL. Part of the project would include new power substations in Buck Twp., Luzerne County, Covington Twp. in Lackawanna County and Paupack Twp. in Wayne County.
Opponents question the need for the project and its location.
"We know it's a little bit of a David and Goliath situation," said Frances Page, a Thornhurst resident who is an organizer of a community group opposed to the project. "We have worked hard for several decades to preserve the rural nature of this area."
The utility selected the route after hosting 13 public-input sessions, PPL spokesman Paul Wirth said.
"The route we picked, we believe, is the best balance to avoid impacts to people and the environment," Mr. Wirth said. "The route was determined, in part, by public input."
PPL wants to locate 75 percent of the line in Thornhurst on private property, Ms. Page said. Her group wants the utility to relocate more of the route through nearby publicly owned state forest and gameland.
Residents worry about potential health impacts from the high-voltage line and possible negative effects on property values, Ms. Page said.
"We don't need to plunder new land for it," she said.
Most residents along the proposed route have responded favorably, Mr. Wirth said. PPL already has reached right of way easement agreements with 85 percent of the property owners whose land would be affected, he said.
"Not only will it prepare for future growth in electricity demand, but it will reduce the number of outages and duration of power outages in the region," he said.
Demand for power in the affected North Pocono area is flat and does not provide justification for the project, Ms. Page said.
"We don't have brownouts here," she said "Why are we bearing an undue burden?"
Contact the writer: jhaggerty@timesshamrock.com