Power Line Project Makes Progress, Despite Sandy

It's been about three months since PSE&G started preperation work on upgrading the Susquehanna-Roseland power line, and since then officials have been making progress, after getting delayed about a month from Hurricane Sandy.

This power line, which has been a controversial project, is a 500,000-volt transmission line that will go through Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey, including Jefferson.

"Right now it's still site preparation, grading, excavation, and road work," PSE&G Project Director John Margaritis said.

He said this week crews worked on Croft Road, Weldon Road and Sachem Road.

Crews disassembled towers and removed wire in the right-of-way off Croft Road and Sachem Road, he said. The tower assembly was also done in the right-of-way off Weldon Road this week.

Margaritis said the company does not have the schedule as to when the new towers will be up, but said "it's going to be a while."

Despite the controversy in the project, , Margaritis said the only delays have been from Sandy, where all the workers had to help with power restorations, and in June when they had to wait for permits.

Many have opposed the project, including private citizens and environmental groups, and are still hoping to stop the construction.

New Jersey’s Sierra Club released a statement Thursday that said they joined other national and local environmental groups in filing a preliminary injunction to stop the project.

They claim the project was "inaproporiately rubberstamped" and will destory scenic vistas and natural resources "all to carry more polluting coal-fired power to eastern markets."

"The Susquehanna-Roseland line will cause irreparable harm and permanent damage  to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area," Director of the NJ Sierra Club Jeff Tittel said. "This destruction cannot be mitigated and that is why we are seeking an injunction.  We cannot allow one of the biggest violations of the public trust and the National Park Service to go forward."

The Susquehanna-Roseland Power Line has been deemed necessary by PJM Interconnection, a regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of electricity through 13 states and the District of Columbia.