newjerseynewsroom.com

Susquehanna-Roseland Line would stretch 145 miles

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The Obama administration Wednesday announced that in an effort to create jobs, it will accelerate the permitting and construction of seven proposed electric transmission lines, including the 145-mile-long Susquehanna and Roseland Line in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Officials believe the action will speed the creation of thousands of construction and operations jobs while transforming the nation’s electric system into a modern grid that would be safer and more secure, and give consumers more energy choices.

"These projects will put Americans to work building the electricity grid of the future - one that allows for more electric vehicles on the road and homes and businesses powered by renewable energy," Environmental Protection Administrator Lisa Jackson said. "This is yet another step forward in our efforts to build a 21st century energy sector in America that is cleaner, healthier and more sustainable."

PPL Electric Utilities and Public Service Electric and Gas Company have proposed the Susquehanna-Roseland power line project, a 500 kV transmission line from the Susquehanna Substation in Pennsylvania to the Roseland Substation in New Jersey, and several 500 – 230 kV substations in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Based on the current schedule for the environmental review, the project is expected to be in service in the spring of 2015. According to the project’s developer, over 2000 jobs would be created in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

“The president wants to get America working again,” Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the Council on Environmental Quality, said. “He is committed to cutting red tape and making immediate investments to put people to work modernizing our roads, bridges, airports, and energy systems. Building a smarter electric grid will create thousands of American jobs and accelerate the growth of domestic clean energy industries translating into more energy choices and cost savings for American consumers, and a more secure energy future for our country.”

The projects are seen as pilot demonstrations of streamlined federal permitting and increased cooperation at the federal, state, and tribal levels. Project developers expect that the projects will also increase grid capacity and create jobs in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, Oregon, and Wisconsin.

“Transmission is a vital component of our nation’s energy portfolio, and these seven lines, when completed, will serve as important links across our country to increase our power grid’s capacity and reliability,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said. “This is the kind of critical infrastructure we should be working together to advance in order to create jobs and move our nation toward energy independence.”

Jeff Tittel, New Jersey Sierra Club director, said Obama is wrong to support the Susquehanna-Roseland Line.

“… The unnecessary Susquehanna-Roseland line will bring dirty coal power into New Jersey while cutting across our public lands,” Tittel said. “The project is being used by PSE&G to allow for increased exports of cleaner energy produced in state to New York City, where they can charge higher rates.

“The President is wrong; this project is not about renewable energy and will not create long term jobs,” Tittel said. “The Susquehanna-Roseland line undermines green energy jobs as we invest in antiquated technology instead of a smart grid, energy efficiency, and demand response programs.

“The Sierra Club and other environmental groups are challenging the need for project as energy demand drops and energy efficiency programs increase in the New Jersey Court of Appeals,” Tittel said. “The National Park Service is currently reviewing the environmental impacts of the projects on our federal public lands and are not expected to make a decision on the project until January 2013. This new pilot project could jeopardize the NPS environmental review and put our public lands at risk.

“President Obama is moving us in the wrong direction on energy issues,” Tittel said. “This is the third disappointment in the past two months. First the approval of the Keystone pipeline to carry tar sands oil across the country, then scrapping the smog rule, and now promoting the expanded exportation of coal-fired energy through this pilot program and the Susquehanna Roseland line.”

The NPS is currently preparing an environmental impact statement on the project as it crosses the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, the Middle Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, and the Appalachian Trail.

For a map of the transmission line pilot projects visit: http://trackingsystem.nisc-llc.com/etrans/utility/Search.seam.