Susquehanna-Roseland is the latest of the proposed NEITC Transmission Corridors
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By Nicole Faraguna Even in the shadow of climate change and the ensuing green energy revolution, a dark and dirty force works to derail Pennsylvania’s efforts towards sustainable energy; as Pennsylvanians begin to recognize the need for cleaner, renewable energy, “Big Coal” is guaranteeing its place in the Mid-Atlantic and New England electricity markets, devastating Pennsylvania’s natural landscapes, air and water quality in the process. In 2005, amendments to the Energy Policy Act (EPA) provided utility companies with unprecedented leverage to influence the course of state and national energy policies. The Act applies a two-tiered approach, which begins with the United States Department of Energy (DOE) establishing transmission corridors. In the case of Pennsylvania, a fifty-two county area has been designated as the “National Interest” Mid-Atlantic Transmission Corridor (NIETC). Within this NIETC, utility companies petition the Pennsylvania Utility Commission (PUC) to construct high-voltage (HV) transmission lines. If the PUC rejects the proposal or takes no action for a year, the second tier of the Act enables utilities to appeal to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for eminent domain powers to seize precious lands within the corridor with no regard for natural landscapes or private property rights. There is also no regard for clean energy policies. These HV lines are in effect a conduit for mid-western and Appalachian-based, coal-fired plants to deliver electricity to Mid-Atlantic and New England states. Unfortunately, from mining to generation, coal is vastly contributing to global warming (generates 20% of the earth’s greenhouse gas emissions), the pollution of our air and water, mountain top removal and deforestation. Coal currently produces 50% of the electricity in the United State, a percentage likely to increase as the industry invests in a record number of new coal-fired plants (The DOE reports 114 facilities nationwide in some phase of planning, Source: http://www.netl.doe.gov/coal/refshelf/ncp.pdf), ensuring a continuous supply of dirty but industry-profitable electricity to flow along the new power lines. There are two HV power lines already proposed for Pennsylvania, the first of which having very direct and obvious ties to Big Coal. The southwestern TrAIL line, which will run from Mt. Storm, Virginia into southwestern Pennsylvania, will originate from one of Dominion Power’s largest coal-fired plants. The other line, PPL’s recently proposed Susquehanna-Roseland power line, will start at the Susquehanna nuclear plant in Berwick. But because of its close proximity to the coal-fired Washingtonville Plant, it is likely that this line would also carry coal-generated electricity. In addition to plans to expand its nuclear energy production at Susquehanna by building a 3rd reactor, PPL is proposing additional coal-fired generation at the Washingtonville site (Note: PPL has created a website dedicated to the Susquehanna-Roseland power line at http://www.pplreliablepower.com). PPL’s $500 million power line project will construct HV lines over 100 miles of Pennsylvania and fifty miles within New Jersey. An exact route has not been determined though a straight line between the two end points traverses Lehigh Valley, Otzinachson, and Northeastern (SC) territories. Both Lehigh Valley and Otzinachson have passed resolutions opposing the corridor designation and PPL’s power line and are working to build a regional coalition to fight the proposal. PPL claims the Susquehanna-Roseland line is necessary due to increased demand; however, Pennsylvania is currently an exporter of electricity. Domestic electricity production in Pennsylvania exceeds the state’s internal demand, according to the International Energy Regulation Network. Pennsylvanians will be forced to subsidize this multi-million dollar power line (and others just like it) through increased electricity rates in order to create a greater energy supply that they won’t use and don’t need. Instead of relying more on sensible, greener solutions such as energy efficiency, cleaner alternate sources and demand response (reduced consumption) programs, the energy industry is relying on dirty coal and other nonrenewables as the source for our electricity needs. While utilities continue their plans for new power line proposals, the NIETC is being challenged on various levels. Most recently, Pennsylvania Senator Robert Casey announced that the Senate Energy & Natural Resource Committee has granted his request for oversight hearings. These hearings are intended to examine the corridor designation and its effects on regional and national energy policies. In addition, the Sierra Club along with ten other organizations has filed a federal lawsuit against the DOE regarding the corridor designation, challenging that the DOE’s NIETC designation process did not follow existing environmental law, including the Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. The lawsuit also asserts that the DOE failed to follow the parameters laid out in the Energy Policy Act, which requires the consideration of alternate energy sources and other energy efficiency strategies. Pennsylvania has just begun to seriously focus on sensible energy solutions; unfortunately, the NIETC does not support what is best for Pennsylvania’s future. It forces residents to forfeit precious landscapes, clean air, health and safety so utility and transmission companies can transfer dirty coal (and nuclear-generated) power to other states, in order to increase profits. You can learn more about the NIETC and proposed power lines at conserveland.org. To get involved in a local power line issue, contact your local Sierra Club group. Sign and send a petition against the lines to your mayor, borough council, legislators, and congresspersons. Check our website for regular updates. Nicole Faraguna is the conservation chair of the Otzinachson Group and the director of outreach and events for the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association. Sierra Club® and "Explore,
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