The Pollyanna Planners of PJM Interconnection are at it again. Today, PJM announced it had made a decision about the building of a new 18-mile 500kV transmission line in Salem County, New Jersey. As the first project awarded under FERC's new "competitive" transmission building system, PJM proved that old habits die hard by awarding the $250M project to incumbent transmission builder PSEG.
PJM kicked a plan by independent transmission builder LS Power to the curb. LS Power's plan was to build a 5.5-mile 230-kV line and a new transformer and switchyard by mid-2017 for $116 million to $148 million. But, PJM's delusions of grandeur made it decide in favor of a longer, bigger and more expensive plan proposed by one of its incumbents.
PJM says that siting and permitting prospects were one of several factors it considered when making the recommendation, although the selected project may have issues securing a permit for a river crossing and will cross the Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, the Alloway Creek Watershed Wetland Restoration Site and the Abbotts Meadow and Mad Horse Creek Wildlife Management Areas.
PJM kicked a plan by independent transmission builder LS Power to the curb. LS Power's plan was to build a 5.5-mile 230-kV line and a new transformer and switchyard by mid-2017 for $116 million to $148 million. But, PJM's delusions of grandeur made it decide in favor of a longer, bigger and more expensive plan proposed by one of its incumbents.
PJM says that siting and permitting prospects were one of several factors it considered when making the recommendation, although the selected project may have issues securing a permit for a river crossing and will cross the Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, the Alloway Creek Watershed Wetland Restoration Site and the Abbotts Meadow and Mad Horse Creek Wildlife Management Areas.
PJM officials said that while this solution was comparable to other projects based on such factors as cost, schedule and the ability to address the reliability concerns, the Hope Creek-Red Lion 500-kV line was superior in terms of constructability.
Seriously, PJM? Who's giving you advice about "constructability?" The same geniuses who thought PATH and MAPP were good ideas? Those two projects turned out not to be so "constructable" after all, and have left PJM ratepayers footing a bill for more than $350M for projects that never even put a shovel in the ground!
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities said PJM’s analysis of the 500-kV option underestimated likely public opposition.
Ya think? Just because the new transmission line parallels an existing one does NOT mean that affected landowners will welcome it with open arms. In fact, these landowners already know what it's like to live with a transmission line across their land, and feel they have already made the ultimate sacrifice for "the public good." They will NOT want another one, and will fight tooth and nail to kill this project.
And, guess what? They'll have plenty of help from other transmission opposition groups that have perfected the art of public opposition. After all, we've had some of the best teachers in the world to show us all the ins and outs of transmission project strategy, and we like to "pay it forward."
So, if you're a landowner in Salem County, New Jersey, who already has a 500kV transmission line in your backyard, check out the map at RTO Insider to see if you're one of "the chosen." I am looking forward to meeting you!
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities said PJM’s analysis of the 500-kV option underestimated likely public opposition.
Ya think? Just because the new transmission line parallels an existing one does NOT mean that affected landowners will welcome it with open arms. In fact, these landowners already know what it's like to live with a transmission line across their land, and feel they have already made the ultimate sacrifice for "the public good." They will NOT want another one, and will fight tooth and nail to kill this project.
And, guess what? They'll have plenty of help from other transmission opposition groups that have perfected the art of public opposition. After all, we've had some of the best teachers in the world to show us all the ins and outs of transmission project strategy, and we like to "pay it forward."
So, if you're a landowner in Salem County, New Jersey, who already has a 500kV transmission line in your backyard, check out the map at RTO Insider to see if you're one of "the chosen." I am looking forward to meeting you!
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