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In the District

Opposition to PPL line In the District with Rep. Kevin Murphy

As most members of our community already know, PPL has proposed that a controversial 101-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line be installed in our region, including parts of the 113th Legislative District.

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The line would run from the Berwick nuclear power plant through Wilkes -Barre, Ransom, West Scranton Mountain, Chinchilla, Clarks Green, Clarks Summit, Scott Township, Blakely, Archbald, Jessup and Wayne County and into New Jersey and then New York City. While there were two other potential routes, this one was chosen since the new line could essentially piggyback on an existing 230-kilovolt line that runs through those areas.

Since the proposal was announced, it’s become entirely clear that our community is opposed to this proposed transmission line. Residents tell me they are concerned about potential easements on their land and permanent property devaluation. They tell me they’re upset that the project could lead to rate hikes and worried that living too close to such a powerful transmission line would create health risks.

I have those same concerns. I also have questions about this project’s necessity, given the decreasing electric demands nationally. I believe it is unacceptable to punish our community’s property owners and ratepayers to deliver electricity to New York City and New Jersey. I believe the line’s location and route ought to be reconsidered and instead built in a more direct route to New York and New Jersey.

The first step in opposing this plan is, of course, to make our voices heard by the Public Utility Commission. To that end, I requested and held a PUC public input hearing in our community at the Abington Community Library on July 2.

During the hearing, a PUC judge heard not only my opposition to the transmission line, but also the opposition of an overwhelming majority of residents in attendance. The only exceptions were electrical union workers who assume the project would mean local jobs, but PPL representatives would not guarantee union labor would even be used if the project happens. As a fervent advocate for labor, I would have at least preferred to have seen an agreement from PPL to use Pennsylvanian union workers for such a project.

From those hearings, it became apparent to me and others in attendance that PPL does not have our community’s best interests in mind—including our workers—and I intend to continue fighting the proposed transmission line’s location.

On another note, please be aware that from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on one Wednesday each month, my Constituent Outreach Program holds office hours in Clarks Green and South Abington for your convenience. We’ll be at the Clarks Green Borough Building, 104 N. Abington Road, on August 26, Sept. 23, Oct. 28, Nov. 25 and Dec. 23. We will also be at the South Abington Township Building, 104 Shady Lane Road in Chinchilla, on August 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 10 (Tuesday hours due to holiday) and Dec. 9.

In addition, I’d like to invite constituents to an open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, August 22, at our constituent service office, 409 N. Main Ave. in Jays Commons. My staff and I will be there to meet you and explain ways we can help with state services. Light refreshments will be served.

For more information on any of these topics or some other state-related issue, please feel free to contact my office 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 570.342.4348.

Representative Kevin Murphy serves the 113th Legislative District in Lackawanna County. Contact his office at 570.342.4348 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit his Web site at www.pahouse.com/Murphy for help with any state-related issues.