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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.