Proposed power line upgrade needs a full and fair review
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PSE&G’s Susquehanna-Roseland line has been
in the planning queue since before 2005. The original purpose of this
and of several other proposed new power lines was to transport
additional cheap, coal-generated energy into the northeast from western
Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. It is known to
energy-insiders as “Project Mountaineer,” a plan to expedite coal
mining and electricity production in these states for sale to the New
York metropolitan region. Susquehanna-Roseland is the eastern end of
Project Mountaineer “Line 1.”
Much has changed in the last few
years, and increased coal-generated electricity is certainly not in the
best interest of the citizens of New Jersey. In fact, our recent Energy
Master Plan n and the plans of the Obama Administration n places
greater emphasis on initiatives for clean, renewable energy, including
solar and offshore wind projects. Switching to clean energy will be a
gradual process, but is being demanded by the public.
When renewables are discussed, energy companies
quickly claim that increased transmission capacity is needed to move
this clean energy from where it is produced to where it is needed. That
may be true in some cases n like transmitting electricity from large
solar farms in the desert where there are currently no transmission
lines. But in most cases, the existing transmission line infrastructure
is more than adequate.
Energy companies frequently use the term
congestion when referring to lines in the northeast. Electric
congestion has nothing to do with lines not having enough capacity.
It’s not like backed-up traffic. There is more than enough transmission
capacity. This definition of congestion refers to difficulty in getting
cheap, coal-generated electricity to where it can be sold for maximum
profit.
The
energy companies claim that lines in our area risk “overloads and
blackouts” beginning in 2012. We are not sure what definition of
overload they are using when they make this claim. Their own estimates
indicate increased annual energy demand of less than 1.5 percent during
peak demand. Many states, including California, have implemented
“demand side management” to lessen demand during peak usage. There are
techniques that can be used to lower peak demand, without building more
lines. http://www.esource.com/esource/getpub/public/pdf/cec/CEC-TB-31_AutoDR.pdf
Regarding
potential blackouts, scientists are predicting severe solar storms are
possible. Similar storms have caused localized blackouts in the past.
Perhaps money would be better spent looking at ways to prevent those
storms from causing blackouts. http://www.solarstorms.org/SWChapter1.html
Another
claim is that the future use of electric cars will require greater
transmission capacity. We don’t know when, or if, that is going to
happen, but many renewable energy advocates envision electric cars
being plugged in as storage devices when not in use n feeding the grid
during peak energy use times, and re-charging when demand is less.
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The
energy companies love to dismiss the potential human health
consequences of EMF’s (electromagnetic fields). They compare their
lines to appliances that emit high levels of EMF’s for short periods of
time. What they don’t tell you is that it is long-term exposure to
EMF’s that is hazardous. For example, if you live near high-voltage
transmission lines, with 5 milligaus EMF readings in your house and
spend 15 hours per day there, you are being exposed to an average of
3.125 milligaus per 24 hours. Studies show that exposure to more than
1.0 milligaus per 24 hours may be hazardous over extended periods of
time. We need to use precaution when it comes to exposure and the
potential health consequences.
At least seven municipalities,
and eight groups or individuals that have filed Motions to Intervene in
the Board of Public Utilities review process, to assure that the BPU
can make a full and fair review of this proposed project and all of the
facts are put into the record. It is BPU’s job to determine if this
project is reasonably necessary for the welfare of the public. The way
this project is currently proposed seems far from reasonable.
David Slaperud
Trustee n Stop The Lines
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