The Pennsylvania Utility Commission is holding public hearings on the Transource Independence Energy Connection proposal to build two transmission lines on entirely new right-of-way in York and Franklin Counties.
The first day of hearings occurred last week in York County, where many citizens spoke out in opposition to the project. The citizen opposition was bolstered by comments from local elected representatives.
The first day of hearings occurred last week in York County, where many citizens spoke out in opposition to the project. The citizen opposition was bolstered by comments from local elected representatives.
State Rep. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-York Township, said the project doesn't show that it will provide "long-term, significant benefits to our local Pennsylvania communities economically, nor preserve our tremendous agrarian heritage and scenic beauty."
She said, "York County is proud of its strong preservation heritage with nearly 42,000 acres and 282 farms."
Phillips-Hill said the question of why two existing high-voltage power transmission lines that run parallel to the proposed route and are not operating at full capacity aren't being utilized hasn't been satisfactorily answered.
Indeed, Rep. Phillips-Hill! Why is this company proposing a transmission line on new right-of-way when existing infrastructure through the community is only half-utilized? Can we blame the company, PJM Interconnection, or federal energy planning procedures? All of the above! The Feds encouraged competitive transmission projects, where companies compete to build the best project at a bargain price. And PJM ran a competitive transmission contest to see who could propose a project that alleviated a congestion concern from 2014. And PJM selected Transource, a new entrant without any existing assets in the geographic area. And Transource can only build new assets because it doesn't own any existing ones that could be upgraded or rebuilt to economically alleviate the constraint with minimal intrusion on local landowners. All three of these entities have since conspired to continue to push this outdated idea, even though better alternatives have been recognized. What good is competition when it costs communities and ratepayers more than upgrading existing assets? It's nothing more than an exercise in trying to force a solution that is no longer economical because a project looked good on paper once upon a time. And it's proof that PJM's competitive process does not work on economic projects because the entire exercise takes too long and is subject to public input. PJM's "market efficiency" competitive transmission planning process is an abject failure that should be abandoned in favor of better, cheaper, less invasive ideas.
I considered the name of this project recently, and the irony is laughable. "Independence?" Making Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Baltimore dependent upon electrical generators in Pennsylvania rather than generating electricity locally is "independence?" Independence for whom? There's nothing "independent" in a transmission project that serves as nothing more than an intrusive leech, sucking resources out of one state to serve a more economically prosperous and politically connected geographic region at the expense of one not so well positioned. That the economic prosperity of the big cities is proposed to gain at the expense of the economic prosperity of small Pennsylvania communities is wrong, just wrong.
It's up to the Pennsylvania Utility Commission to protect Pennsylvanians, not toss them under the bus in order to provide benefits for citizens of other states. And you need to tell them so! The second York public hearing is scheduled to take place today, beginning at 1:00 and 6:00 at the Airville Volunteer Fire Department.
Two additional public hearings will take place next week in Franklin County.
I considered the name of this project recently, and the irony is laughable. "Independence?" Making Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Baltimore dependent upon electrical generators in Pennsylvania rather than generating electricity locally is "independence?" Independence for whom? There's nothing "independent" in a transmission project that serves as nothing more than an intrusive leech, sucking resources out of one state to serve a more economically prosperous and politically connected geographic region at the expense of one not so well positioned. That the economic prosperity of the big cities is proposed to gain at the expense of the economic prosperity of small Pennsylvania communities is wrong, just wrong.
It's up to the Pennsylvania Utility Commission to protect Pennsylvanians, not toss them under the bus in order to provide benefits for citizens of other states. And you need to tell them so! The second York public hearing is scheduled to take place today, beginning at 1:00 and 6:00 at the Airville Volunteer Fire Department.
Two additional public hearings will take place next week in Franklin County.
Please come out and support your community, whether it is giving oral comment, submitting written comment, or simply showing your opposition from the audience. This may be your only opportunity to have your say, please don't miss it!
See you there!
See you there!
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