A $335 million power line upgrade is headed for the Poconos
and other parts of northern Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved PPL
Electric Utilities Northeast-Pocono Reliability Project and the South Whitehall
Township-based company's application to use eminent domain as part of the
project.
The commission voted 5-0 to authorize the project, which
includes placement and construction of transmission lines in portions of
Monroe, Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wayne counties. The commission found that the
new facilities are necessary and that PPL took reasonable steps to minimize the
environmental effects of the construction and maintenance of the facilities,
according to Jennifer Kocher, spokeswoman for PUC.
"One of the standards for siting a transmission line is
to ensure reliability of the electrical system," Kocher said. "It was
also shown to reduce outages."
The approval of the project also includes authorization of
the following:
• An application seeking approval for the placement and
construction of transmission lines.
• Buildings – to shelter control equipment at the proposed
North Pocono and West Pocono substations – that are exempt from any local
zoning ordinance.
The forced acquisitions include portions of five Tobyhanna
Township properties and are part of the power line route.
Kocher said the PUC will give PPL the certificate of need to
start any condemnation proceedings for those properties.
PPL officials could not be reached for comment.
Source: LVB.com
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