Pocono News Section

PPL High Voltage Power Line Approved

PPL High Voltage Power Line Approved - Friday, January 15, 2010 at 4:58PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Friday, Jan 15, 2010 @ 04:58pm EST
LEHMAN TOWNSHIP, PIKE COUNTY - Big power lines in Saw Creek Estates could soon get even bigger. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved a high voltage PPL power line to rung through the community. Saw Creek General Manager David Martin said, "This line will appear as a scar across our community."

The lines there now are about 85 feet tall. The proposed lines will more than double that. They'll be about 190 feet tall. Janice Harter lives in Saw Creek. She said, "This is our home. They don't need to be coming through our backyard." And she literally means her back yard. The lines are just 100 feet from her house. Her husband Bob Harter said, "We're worried about the health problems with the high tension lines coming through."

They also worry about construction of the line. Janice explained, "We're afraid it's gonna put cracks in our house and upset the water lines."

The couple also complained that the line won't even service Pennsylvania. It will provide power for New Jersey. PPL has said it has the right of way to build the lines there and has had that right since the 1920s.

Martin said, "We're deeply disappointed in the decision to be perfectly honest." He added, "We still remain steadfast in our opposition to these lines."

The project still needs approval from New Jersey officials and the National Park Service. Saw Creek residents plan to fight those approvals. Martin said, "We'll be as active as we possibly can be in that process."

PPL has had several public hearings and has said it will do its best to east the community concerns. The power line is part of the Susquehanna-Roseland Power Transmission line. It's 101 miles long.