PJM shell game continues
October 14th, 2010
This week, PJM has “decided” that part of the humongous 500kV buildout isn’t necessary. Well DUH, but…
PJM Press Release – PJM Board authorizes $18 billion in transmission upgrades
And so please explain why the headline isn’t “PJM Board cancels 500-kilovolt (kV) line connecting the Branchburg, Roseland and Hudson substations in northern New Jersey.”
From that PJM board meeting, there was a presentation that looks like a corporate-style WAKE UP call:
Meanwhile, I’m trying to find the primary documentation, something with specifics about what was “approved” and what was “removed” and the basis for it… nada… nothing that I can find on the site. Something else irritating is that when I’m looking up documents on the PJM site, I often just get a blank black page, particularly from the TEAC site.
One interesting presentation was about a Market Efficiency Analysis, in 2014 without Mid-Atlantic Power Pathway (MAPP), Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH), Branchburg-Roseland-Hudson and Susquehanna-Roseland, and from then on without the Branchburg, Roseland and Hudson line:
2010 Market Efficiency Analysis Results Updates – October 6, 2010
And when I try to get closer to the Northern NJ documentation… well, tell me if YOU can get anything:
“File is damaged and could not be repaired.” So I called the number on the PJM press release to see… and was told they’ll call back. Yes, we shall see…
PSEG S-R applications rejected and withdrawn!
August 6th, 2010
HA! I love it when this happens. Just before National Park Service public hearings (schedule below), PSEG screws up and an application gets tossed back in their face!
I’m representing Stop the Lines against PSEG”s Susquehanna-Roseland transmission project in New Jersey.
PSEG thought they’d be “smart,” and given the length and intensity of process for the federal environmental review of its proposal to cross the federally designated Wild & Scenic Delaware Water Gap with massive transmission…
… they tried to divide the line in half for its News Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection wetlands application and other DEP applications too.
First the DEP rejected that maneuver, short and sweet, and rejected their wetlands application:
Here’s the meat of it, first the funny part:
… and then, the substantive issue…
So then, PSEG withdraws their other DEP applications:
I love it when that happens… and what great timing. Bring on the National Park Service hearings!
Here’s an Alert from the New Jersey Sierra Club:
Urge the National Park Service to Select the “No Action” Alternative!
The National Park Service will be hosting 3 public meetings to present the Preliminary Alternatives for the Susquehanna-Roseland transmission line as part of its NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) review for this project. The meetings will consist of an “open house” portion where information will be available and NPS staff can answer questions and a formal “public hearing” portion. The meetings will be held:
Tuesday, August 17
Fernwood Hotel and Resort
US 209 North
Bushkill, PA
Open House: 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Public Hearing: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Stroudsmoor Country Inn – Terraview
North 4th St
Stroudsburg, PA
Open House: 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Public Hearing: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Farmstead Golf and Country Club
88 Lawrence Road
Lafayette, NJ
Open House: 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Public Hearing: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
The proposed alternative routes can be viewed here. Click on the “Preliminary Alternatives Newsletter” for details and mapping of the 6 proposed routes.
Please come to these meetings and voice your support for the “No Build Alternative”! If you are unable to attend the hearings, comments can be submitted online here. NPS will accept comments on these alternatives August 8- September 7.
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And word is getting out:
Opponents of powerline upgrade are happy that project is delayed
BY COLLEEN O’DEA • STAFF WRITER • August 5, 2010
Last week, PSE&G’s second quarter earnings statement disclosed that the utility would not complete work on the eastern half of the line, from Hopatcong through portions of Morris County to Roseland, until 2014 and on the western section to the Delaware Water Gap until 2015.
Read the rest of this entry »
PSEG announces “delay” for Susquehanna-Roseland
July 31st, 2010
Yes, indeed, PSEG is making things work for us…
PSEG has announced through its 2Q report that the Susquehanna-Roseland transmission line will be delayed until at least 2015. Just like the Brookings line part of CapX 2020! Funny how that works.
Here’s what they said in this about D-E-L-A-Y of the Susquehanna-Roseland transmission line – two little snippets:
You can learn more about the Susquehanna-Roseland transmission project at www.stopthelines.com!
Interesting 2Q report, some pretty juicy dry numbers here, look how far down their net income was, and look at how their bottom line recovered — it’s those “excluded items” that make the difference:
As Business Week notes:
It’s hard to type that headline without two or three exclamation points!!!
Here’s the report from the Star-Ledger:
PSE&G delays construction of controversial Susquehanna-Roseland power line
Published: Friday, July 30, 2010, 4:14 PM
Brian T. Murray/The Star-Ledger
Stop the Lines appeals BPU decision
June 8th, 2010
Stop the Lines has appealed the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities decision approving the Susquehanna-Roseland transmission line through northern New Jersey.
The New Jersey environmental coalition that intervened in this docket, represented by Eastern Environmental Law Center, has appealed too!
This is yet another case of utility wants but NO NEED, and now, they’re trying to build only the eastern section! Say what?!??!! That’s not what the BPU approved!
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Stop The Lines appeals BPU decision on PSE&G Susquehanna-Roseland power line project
Stop The Lines, a grassroots opposition group, has filed an appeal in the Appellate Division of NJ Superior Court challenging the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) decision to allow Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) to build a massive power line along an existing right-of-way that was not designed to accommodate a line of this magnitude.
“Building 195-foot high towers within a 150-foot wide right-of-way is simply unreasonable,” said David Slaperud, a Stop The Lines trustee. Slaperud said that the proposed line would negatively impact property values, and that a project of this size running through residential areas is detrimental to public health and safety. “The BPU has not adequately addressed these concerns.”
“BPU was asked several times during evidentiary hearings to look at the most recent energy demand data, and they failed to request the additional information,” continued Slaperud. “Instead, they relied solely the word of Mr. Steven Herling, Vice President of Planning, PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM), who stated, ‘We will do the analysis, but we already know what the results will be,’ when questioned during hearings. No facts, just basically a plea to ‘Trust us.’”
Tom Hill, another trustee of Stop The Lines added, “How could the BPU take Mr. Herling at his word, rather than simply looking at the data that is currently available? Something just doesn’t seem right – while energy demand continues to drop, BPU is willing to take PJM at their word rather than requiring data to back that assumption up.”
Stop The Lines attorney Carol A. Overland strongly agrees. “This BPU decision comes at a time when any utility infrastructure is suspect. PJM’s demand has been steadily decreasing since 2006, and recently PSE&G proposed to build only a part of it. That alone shows we’re not going to be freezing in the dark, the lights won’t go out. Add PJM’s State of the Market Report and the increasingly delayed RTEP, it’s just not plausible that they need this line. What’s clear is they WANT it, but their business plan and PJM’s marketing plan are not sufficient reasons to put landowners and communities through this transmission hell.” Overland stated that the proposed new project is far beyond what a demand increase would require. “It’s transmission on steroids at a time when we are in conservation training. The Susquehanna-Roseland Project is going backwards down the wrong path.”
The Stop the Lines appeal will focus on the lack of need for this massively expanded transmission line, and the BPU’s refusal to consider new PJM information showing an decreased demand now or in the foreseeable future; the uncertainty of rate-recovery, which is currently at issue at FERC; health and safety impacts on landowners, residents and the environment; and economic impacts ranging from loss of property value and tax revenue to inability of homeowners to obtain mortgages.
Stop The Lines also fully supports the issues raised by the four Environmental Groups – Environment New Jersey, New Jersey Highlands Coalition, New Jersey Environmental Federation and the New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club – in their appeal of the BPU decision, and will work in collaboration with them throughout the appeal process.
PSEG withdraws part of application!
May 23rd, 2010
It was one of those weeks. First CapX 2020 provides official notice that the Brookings-Hampton transmission line is delayed. [Motion to Suspend Proceedings!]
Hot in the heels of CapX 2020’s notice of “delay” of the Brookings-Hampton transmission line, PSEG provides official notice that it is withdrawing their NJ DEP permit for the Susquehanna-Roseland transmission line:
Please take notice in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:A12.6(f). Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is hereby amending the above-referenced permit applications submitted to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). PSE&G is withdrawing the applications for the section of the Project located to the west of the proposed Hopatcong Switching Station. The municipalities west of the Hopatcong Switching Station include Sparta Township, Byram Township, Andover Township, the Town of Newton, Fredon Township, Stillwater Township and Hardwick Township The company may resubmit a new application or applications to NJDEP for the western section of the Project at a later date.
It’s all here in their Notice to affected towns:
And here’s the real deal:
The funniest part is this — AS IF!!!
We know that they’ve got a problem at the Delaware Water Gap… we know they’ve got a problem at the NJ DEP… Now I wonder… how much of the Pennsylvania part is withdrawn???
Just like the CapX 2020 transmission project, the Susquehanna-Roseland transmission project was approved as a whole, the studies used to justify it were on the project as a whole, the BPU decision approving the project was on the project as a whole… so what, now they can say they just don’t need that part??? I don’t think so…