PJM Transmission Line
Overview
PJM Interconnect, a regional transmission organization (RTO) with representation from the power industry, is poised to recommend advancement of a new 500kV Transmission Line to address electrical stability issues at the Salem and Hope Creek nuclear plants located on Artificial Island, Salem County, NJ.
Impact
The project being recommended by PJM would adversely impact an astoundingly high number of important ecological resources including:
the Delaware River
Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Alloway Creek Restoration Site
Abbotts Meadow Wildlife Management Area
Mad Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area
emergent wetlands (35 crossings with a likely 200 foot right of way cleared)
freshwater-forested wetlands (27 crossings with a likely 200 foot right of way cleared)
freshwater scrub-shrub wetlands (11 crossings with a likely 200 foot right of way cleared)
freshwater ponds (11 crossings)
estuarine and marine deepwater/wetlands (35 crossings)
59 waterbodies including Alloway Creek, Mill Creek and tributaries
4 federally-listed endangered or threatened species
30 state-listed endangered or threatened species
Challenging Advancement of the Proposal
The Delaware Riverkeeper Network was among the first to go on record challenging advancement of the proposal.
On July 23, 2014, just after the proposed meeting where this proposal was to be voted on by the PJM board, a letter was released by the Board which included the following:
“The Board appreciates the analyses and comments submitted by various stakeholders through an entirely new competitive process guided by FERC Order 1000. To ensure a thorough and fair review, given the complexities of the issues, the Board has determined that it will take the matter under advisement and defer selection at this time.”
But now a new proposal has been submitted — with modifications but alot of similarities so we have submitted updated comment. See below for the latest.