March 23, 2009 - Night-time wildlife studies scheduled, other work continues
Crews will be doing various kinds of work along the route of the Susquehanna-Roseland power line. We’re conducting various studies required by Pennsylvania’s power line approval process, and we wanted you to be aware that you may be seeing this activity on the route over the next several months. This work includes:
Night-time wildlife studies – As part of our work to survey the route for any threatened or endangered species, we will be doing some wildlife studies during evening and night-time hours. This time frame is necessary because certain species are active only at night. The work will be done by certified wildlife scientists and technicians, and is a routine part of the power line approval process. Typically, a crew will be at each location for two consecutive nights, weather permitting. In addition to this letter, if you live immediately adjacent to the route, we will make every effort to contact you personally just before this night-time work is scheduled in your area.
Archeological studies – Technicians will use shovels to dig small holes in the right of way to find out if any historical artifacts may be beneath the surface. We’ll refill each hole before leaving the area. This work, already under way in some locations, also is a routine part of the power line approval process.
Survey work – Surveyors will be doing their work along the right of way as part of the design process for the power line. PPL Electric Utilities also plans to periodically inspect and mark proposed pole locations along the Susquehanna-Roseland route to assist in the design process.
Geotechnical surveys – This work, which will be performed by several people, will require the use of a drill rig and pickup trucks. At each pole location, up to three holes, each about three inches wide, will be dug to identify the soil conditions. The hole will be filled in upon completion of the required work. Typically, work at each location will take one to two days to complete.
Plant surveys – Crews will be conducting various plant surveys between mid-April and early September on various parts of the power line corridor. The exact schedule will vary depending on the growing season for each species. The survey crew will likely consist of one or two people.
Routine Tree Work – You also may notice some tree trimming or tree removal work being completed along the power lines that currently exist on the Susquehanna-Roseland route. This work is part of the periodic tree maintenance we conduct to ensure safe and reliable operation of electric transmission lines in our system. PPL Electric Utilities is required to trim or remove trees that may fall into or grow into these lines and cause power outages for our customers. This work is not related to the Susquehanna-Roseland project.
If you have questions about any aspect of this project, please feel free to call our special toll-free number, 1-800-291-5403, or e-mail us from the project Web site, www.pplreliablepower.com.
February 11, 2009 - Work Scheduled along power line route
During the time that the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is reviewing our application to build this project, we will move forward with final design work. This work will determine where each of the new poles would be placed, where access roads would be needed, and other details. Construction will not begin until the project is approved by the PUC.
Near the end of February, PPL Electric Utilities will begin archeological survey work along the section of the Susquehanna-Roseland route between Lake Wallenpaupack and the Bushkill area. This routine work, part of any project of this size, will consist of minimal digging with shovels to identify if any historical artifacts may be beneath the surface. This work should be completed in mid-April.
During March, PPL Electric Utilities will begin surveying work in this same area. We expect this work to take about eight weeks to complete. From mid-April until the end of May, crews will then conduct geotechnical studies in this area. This work, which will be performed by several people, will require the use of a drill rig and pickup trucks. At each pole location, up to three holes, each about three inches wide, will be dug to identify the soil conditions. The holes will be filled in upon completion of the required work. Typically, work at each location will take one to two days to complete.
PPL Electric Utilities also plans to periodically inspect the proposed pole locations along the entire Susquehanna-Roseland route to identify any potential issues. During this time, you may notice people completing this work on the right of way.
You also may notice some tree trimming or tree removal work being completed along the power lines that currently exist on the Susquehanna-Roseland route. This work is part of the periodic tree maintenance we conduct to ensure safe and reliable operation of electric transmission lines in our system. PPL Electric Utilities is required to trim or remove trees that may fall into or grow into these lines and cause power outages for our customers. This work is not related to the Susquehanna-Roseland project.
If you have questions about any aspect of this project, please feel free to call our special toll-free number, 1-800-291-5403, or e-mail us from the project Web site, www.pplreliablepower.com.
January 6, 2009 - Line submitted to Pa. PUC for approval
After 18 public meetings and thousands of conversations with residents along the route – and after seeking public input on everything from route selection to line design – PPL Electric Utilities has submitted to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission its application to site and build the Susquehanna-Roseland power line.
>> Read PUC filing
>> Read news release
December 19, 2008 - Routine tree work may occur along line route
Residents may notice some tree trimming or removal work being done along the power lines that currently exist on the chosen route of the Susquehanna-Roseland project.
This work is part of the periodic tree maintenance we do to ensure safe and reliable operation of electric transmission lines in our system. We’re required to trim or remove trees that may fall into or grow into these lines and cause power outages for our customers.
The work is not related to the Susquehanna-Roseland power line project, which must be approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission before construction can begin.
November 3, 2008 - Third round of public open houses scheduled
Continuing our effort to keep property owners informed and seek public input, PPL Electric Utilities has scheduled a third round of public open houses for the Susquehanna-Roseland power line project.
We are dedicated to an open dialogue with property owners and the public, and encourage anyone with questions to attend the open house in their region. Open houses are scheduled as follows:
- Nov. 17 - Newton Ransom Fire Hall, 1890 Newton Ransom Blvd., Clarks Summit, PA 18411.
- Nov. 18 - PPL Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center, Route 6, Hawley, PA 18428.
- Nov. 19 - Fernwood Hotel and Resort, River Road and Route 209, Bushkill, PA 18324.
- Nov. 20 - Black Diamond Post 395 - American Legion, 386 Wyoming Ave. No. 2 , Kingston, PA 18704.
As before, there will be no set agenda for these meetings and no formal presentation, so feel free to visit anytime between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. These open houses will be less information-intensive than previous ones and will focus more on obtaining information from residents on their specific concerns and answering their questions about the project.
September 10, 2008 - Additional meetings held; environmental studies set
During the week of Aug. 25, PPL Electric Utilities completed four additional public open houses along the route and began learning more about issues of concern to local residents. We are now examining ways that we can be responsive to those concerns. We will continue this spirit of flexibility and outreach throughout the course of the project.
Listed below are some activities that are planned during the coming weeks:
• We will be conducting environmental studies, including detailed surveys of wetlands, wildlife, plants, habitats and cultural resources along our existing and proposed rights of way. These studies will be done by biologists, historians, archaeologists and other experts working in two- to three-person teams on the lands along the route. Property owners on or near the route may notice this activity beginning about Sept. 15 and running through about Nov. 30. Additional work is likely next spring and summer. The information gathered will be used to help minimize the environmental impact of the project.
• We will continue our meetings with property owners in cases where PPL Electric Utilities needs to acquire additional right of way. Although there is existing power line along 93 percent of this route, there are some cases where additional right of way will need to be acquired.
• You may also see some helicopter activity along the line. These flights, along the Susquehanna-Roseland route and in other areas of our service territory, are helping us more accurately map the exact position of our lines.
We will continue to provide updates as the project moves forward. Please feel free to contact us with questions or comments at our special toll-free number, 1-800-291-5403, or e-mail us by clicking here.
August 5, 2008 - Route B Selected
After an exhaustive study process that included 10 public input workshops throughout the region and numerous discussions with residents, elected officials and others, PPL Electric Utilities has chosen Route B as the route for the Susquehanna-Roseland power line project in Pennsylvania.
The selected route runs north from Berwick, past Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, then east to Hawley and southeast to Bushkill where it crosses the Delaware River. It follows an existing power line for almost its entire distance.
The New Jersey portion of the power line, from the river to Roseland, will be built by Public Service Electric & Gas Co.
“Two of our main goals were to minimize the impact of this project on residents near the line, and on the environment,” said David E. Schleicher, vice president-Transmission. “We are convinced that this is the best route to accomplish those goals while providing very real reliability benefits for electric customers in eastern Pennsylvania and throughout the region.”
The 500-kilovolt power line is needed to handle increasing customer demand for electricity that could otherwise lead to overloads and even blackouts on the regional power grid. Because overloads can have widespread regional impacts, the line will benefit all electric customers in the region – regardless of where they live or which electric company serves their needs, Schleicher said.
He pointed out that the regional blackout of 2003, which started with power line failures in Ohio, spread as far as New York City, leaving nearly 50 million people without electricity. “The regional electricity transmission system is only as strong as its weakest link,” he said.
The PJM Interconnection, which oversees reliability planning for the regional power grid, identified the need for the new line and assigned PPL Electric Utilities to build the Pennsylvania portion.
PJM determined that if this upgrade is not made by May 2012, there is the potential for overloads on other power lines. The danger is greatest during periods when demand is highest: the hottest summer days and the coldest winter nights.
Because this type of power line provides regional benefits, its cost is shared by all electric customers in PJM – a region of 51 million people encompassing 13 states and the District of Columbia.
“We understand that new power lines – even if they are built where existing lines now stand – can cause concern for nearby residents,” Schleicher said. “We will work very hard with individual property owners to answer their questions and address their concerns about this project as we move forward.”
PPL Electric Utilities evaluated three possible routes for the line. Two of the possible routes went north through Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wayne and Pike counties. The third possible route went south through Schuylkill, Lehigh and Northampton counties.
The decision to choose Route B was made after careful consideration of impacts along all three routes, and after considering public input. This route follows an existing power line for the great majority (93 percent) of its length. PPL Electric Utilities received extensive comments from interested people along all three routes – including comments made in person at public input workshops, by phone using a special toll-free number, and by e-mail from the project’s Web site.
The company will ask the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to approve the route in an application that is expected to be filed in the fourth quarter of 2008. The PUC review process – which also includes input from the public – could take as long as a year. The line is scheduled to be in service by May 2012.
Construction of the line will provide an economic boost to the region of at least $100 million over three years, creating 165 to 330 construction jobs during the period, according to an economic impact study conducted by the Penn State Workforce Education and Development Initiative Team.
“This project will help ensure that PPL Electric Utilities can continue its longstanding record of providing excellent and reliable electric service to our customers in Pennsylvania, while supporting continued electric service reliability for all electric customers across the region,” Schleicher said.
Click here for news release.
July 1, 2008 - Public Input Workshops Complete
We have completed the public workshops designed to gather input on the three alternative routes for the Susquehanna-Roseland power line project.
Over the next month, we’ll be reviewing all comments and considering them carefully as we choose one of the three routes to recommend to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for approval.
Thank you to everyone who attended the meetings or made comments by phone and e-mail. If you have additional questions or concerns, please call us toll-free at 1-800-291-5403 or e-mail us by logging on to www.pplreliablepower.com.
The Susquehanna-Roseland power line is needed to ensure reliable electric service for all electric customers in eastern and northeastern Pennsylvania and throughout the region. We’ll keep you informed as we move forward with the process to complete this project.
June 13, 2008 - Workshop added in Milford area
PPL Electric Utilities has scheduled an additional public workshop on the Susquehanna-Roseland Power Line Project for the convenience of residents in the Milford, Pa., area. This is in addition to the eight other open houses being held along the potential line routes. The Milford public workshop will be held Monday, June 30, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Best Western Inn at Hunt’s Landing in Matamoras.
June 12, 2008 – Webcast for municipal officials
PPL Electric Utilities will host a webcast for municipal officials at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, June 12. The webcast will include an overview of the Susquehanna Roseland power line project, highlight the three possible line routes and give municipal officials a chance to ask questions.
To access the webcast, click here. If you cannot listen to the live webcast, you can use the link above to access a replay after the event.
June 5, 2008 - Possible routes identified; public input invited at workshops
PPL Electric Utilities has identified three possible routes, and is seeking public comment at a series of nine public input workshops throughout eastern and northeastern Pennsylvania. After considering public input – along with the data gathered during extensive study of the region – we will pick the preferred route for the project.
Route descriptions:
Route A begins at the PPL Electric Utilities switching station near Berwick and travels northeast through Luzerne and Lackawanna counties on the path of an existing 230-kV power line. The line then travels east through Lackawanna and Wayne counties primarily on the path of existing power lines before heading east-southeast through Pike County.
Route B begins at the PPL Electric Utilities switching station near Berwick and travels through Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wayne counties on the same power line rights of way as Route A. Route B separates from Route A at a point northeast of Lake Wallenpaupack and travels south through the Delaware State Forest on the path of an existing 230-kV power line.
Route C begins at the PPL Electric Utilities switching station near Berwick and travels south primarily on existing future-use right of way through Luzerne and Schuylkill counties. The line then travels east primarily on future-use or existing transmission power line routes in Schuylkill, Lehigh and Northampton counties.
After considering public input and examining the pros and cons of each potential route, we will choose one route for the project and begin working with residents along that route to minimize potential impacts and inconvenience as much as possible.
Before any construction can begin, PPL Electric Utilities will seek approval from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to build the new power line.
Public input workshops:
Monday, June 16 (5-8 p.m.)
PPL East Mountain Business Center, 1190 East Mountain Drive, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
Tuesday, June 17 (5-8 p.m.)
Hilton Scranton & Conference Center, 100 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18503
Wednesday, June 18 (5-8 p.m.)
Wallenpaupack Area High School, 2552 Route 6, Hawley, PA 18428
Thursday, June 19 (5-8 p.m.)
Fernwood Resort & Conference Center, Route 209 and River Road, Bushkill, PA 18324
Monday, June 23 (5-8 p.m.)
Berwick Area High School, 1100 Fowler Ave., Berwick, PA 18603
Tuesday, June 24 (5-8 p.m.)
Tamaqua Community Center, 229 Center St. (rear), Tamaqua, PA 18252
Wednesday, June 25 (5-8 p.m.)
Forks Township Community Center, 500 Zucksville Road, Easton, PA 18040
Thursday, June 26 (5-8 p.m.)
Northampton Community Center, 1601 Laubach Ave., Northampton, PA 18067
Monday, June 30 (5-8 p.m.)
Best Western Inn at Hunt's Landing, 120 Routes 6 and 209, Matamoras, PA 18336
For nearby residents
Property owners in a 1,000-foot corridor along each possible route have been mailed letters with details of the routes and an invitation to attend one of the workshops. All others who are interested also are welcome to attend a workshop of their choice, or to contact PPL directly by clicking here. You can also call us toll-free at 1-800-291-5403 and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
Project news release (click here)
Here is the news release PPL Electric Utilities issued about the public input workshops and possible routes on June 5, 2008.
Project fact sheet (click here)
Here is a copy of the fact sheet mailed to property owners in a 1,000-foot corridor along each possible route.
April 9, 2008 - CEO of Greater Pocono Chamber supports project
The Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce supports the Susquehanna-Roseland project as vital to job creation and business growth, and as essential for the region’s supply of dependable electricity.