Controversial NJ Power Line Picked for Obama Administration Pilot Project

The following story was written by Tom Johnson and published by our partners at NJSpotlight.com.

The federal government yesterday announced a new pilot program to expedite construction of transmission projects, selecting the highly controversial Susquehanna-Roseland proposal, which cuts through the Delaware Water Gap and New Jersey Highlands, as one of seven chosen nationwide.

In a conference call from Washington, D.C., top Obama administration officials called modernizing the nation's power grid a key to a clean energy economy and creating thousands of jobs, while making the power system more reliable and delivering savings to consumers.

The selection of the Susquehanna-Roseland power line might speed up the final review of the 145-mile project, which has been delayed until the National Park Service completes a draft environmental impact statement, expected to be finished by the end of the year or early in 2012. The National Park Service permit is needed because the 45-mile link in New Jersey crosses the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

Although it follows an existing right-of-way, the line has been bitterly fought by conservation groups, who argue it is not needed given falling electricity consumption. They also fear the line, if built, would result in more dirty coal power being imported into the state from Pennsylvania and areas west of New Jersey.

"I am disappointed by the decision of the Obama Administration to fast-track the Susquehanna-Roseland project in the name of renewable energy or modernization of the grid, as this project does neither. Plain and simple, it is a conduit for 'coal-by-wire' from dirty power plants to the west of us – under the guise of "Project Mountaineer" -- a profit-driven scheme of big coal being supported by PJM Interconnection,'' said Scott Olson, deputy mayor of Byram Township.

"The purpose of the Susquehanna-Roseland line is to bring in dirty coal power from Pennsylvania. The president is wrong; this project is not about renewable energy and will not create long term jobs. The Susquehanna-Roseland line undermines green energy jobs as we invest in antiquated technology instead of a smart grid, energy efficiency, and demand-response programs," said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

By establishing a rapid response team for transmission projects, the administration hopes to coordinate permitting decisions among various federal agencies, making the system easier and quicker to navigate. Lauren Azar, senior advisor to the Secretary of Energy, said the administration hopes to complete review of the Susquehanna-Roseland project in a year.

Julia Somers, executive director of the New Jersey Highlands Coalition, argued that Susquehanna-Roseland does not belong in a category of projects undergoing rapid review, especially "when it clearly has such serious problems."

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