Opposition
to Pennsylvania Power & Light’s “preferred”
route for Power Lines & Station in Springfield Township
White paper ~ May 2008
Executive Summary
Background: Pennsylvania Power
and Light (PPL) has presented a proposal for a new power transmission line
between Quakertown and Coopersburg. The
proposal outlines three potential routes for the line, with the PPL
“preferred” route being “cross country” through farm fields,
floodplains and woodlands.
Although not specifically outlined in
the proposal, it has been brought to our attention that PPL intends to
construct a 5-7 acre substation along the Cross Country route on the
former Creticos property on Hickon Rd.
Position statement:
The
residents of Springfield Township are not anti-PPL. We recognize the need
for an effective and economical means of providing energy. We’re
not opposed to PPL crossing Springfield Township. The alternative Route
309 corridor also crosses Springfield Twp., but it already has roads,
telephone lines, and a PPL easement. The other alternative route follows
the existing SEPTA right of way with its unused track.
Using a modification of the existing easement is less intrusive
than tearing out a several mile long 100-foot wide swath through our
Resource Protection Area.
o
We favor either alternative route for the power lines
and substations:
Alternative 1 – SEPTA route, 9.45 miles (1.4 mi in Springfield Township)
Alternative 3 – 309 corridor, 9.59 miles (2.2 mi in Springfield
Township)
We
favor these routes because they are more commercial and industrial, thus
environment impacts and stigmatizing effects of a power grid would be
minimal.
We note that the most prevalent argument presented by PPL against the
alternative routes is cost, time and inconvenience to PPL.
o
We oppose PPL’s "preferred" Cross Country
route for power lines and substations.
Alternative 2 – Cross country, 7.09 miles* (2.6 mi in Springfield
Township)
We
oppose this route because we wish to preserve and protect open spaces,
water quality, biodiversity, and the rural and historic character of
Springfield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
We also oppose this route because we wish to protect property
values that are dependent on the rural character and environmental health
of the region.
o
We are concerned about methods used by PPL to procure
land - apparently based on self-interest, and convenience – based on its
own research and interpretations and ahead of PUC approval
PPL’s conflict of interest should preclude it from performing impact
studies, or interpreting the results of others hired to perform impact
studies.
We are also
concerned how PPL represented this project to the landowners while
negotiating easements. SbULU
has been told numerous times that these representatives indicated that the
project had already been approved and that if the landowner did not sign
an easement, they would be subject to eminent domain condemnation of their
property.
Alternative Routes
Alternative 1 – SEPTA route,
9.45 miles (1.4 mi in Springfield Township)
Alternative 2 – Cross country,
7.09 miles (2.6 mi in Springfield Township)
Alternative 3 – 309 corridor,
9.59 miles (2.2 mi in Springfield Township)
Topics
