Suggested format for your testimony:“Thank you Judges Barnes and Calvelli (or 'your honors') for the opportunity to speak today against the proposed power lines in my community.” <Talk about the reasons that the line should not be built> <Talk about how it impacts you> <End with impact>“Again, thank you for the opportunity to provide my input. I urge you to please reject Transource's application.”
The most effective testimony will have: - A personal element – Tell your story and how this project negatively impacts your family.
- A basis of legal arguments that could be used to defeat the power line project.
You may want to spend about half the time talking about each. We suggest that you include one (and only one) of the following arguments in your testimony. Please say these things in your own words. There will be enough people testifying that all of these points are likely to be covered multiple times.
- The IEC was proposed as a “market efficiency” project. No one’s lights are going off! Its only purpose is to reduce the electrical rates of people in the DC metro area. Talk about how this makes you feel and why it is a bad idea to hurt us to help them.
- Maryland imports almost half of its electricity, and they continue to import more every year. Maryland keeps shutting its coal plants because they say they are dirty. Maryland sues the EPA to enforce stricter air standards in Pennsylvania while begging for Pennsylvania for more power. Why should Pennsylvania landowners bear the burden of Maryland's failed energy policy?
- Why should the people who live hundreds of miles away from power plants be “entitled” to cheap electricity? People who live near the power plants SHOULD pay less than people who live far away.
- If you take electricity out of Pennsylvania and move it to Maryland,won't that make less electricity in Pennsylvania, and doesn't less electricity make the price go up here?
- The most recent economic analysis from PJM shows that this project has a Benefit to Cost ratio of 1.32. PJM won't approve a project over 1.25.This is a highly mediocre project even by PJM's own ranking, and why are they wasting our time and money with it? Are they just trying to make money for electric companies?
- All of the economic analysis done by PJM to justify this project did NOT include the costs to landowners. It did not include the loss of tax revenue by the school district as affected properties lose value. They only included the electrical costs and benefits, and that is not a good analysis.
- Pennsylvania just built a huge pipeline to move natural gas into Maryland. Why can't Maryland build their own power plants using that gas?
- What is going to happen to the price of electricity here in Pennsylvania if Three Mile Island closes as planned?
- There are two power lines within 2 miles of here (Airville) that both go to Maryland. They only have power lines on ONE side of the poles. Why don't they use them instead?
- Are there any rules that force Transource to use the PPL/BGE power lines that are only half used? If there aren't any rules, and they can get away with building a new line, then what is to stop more lines from coming as every company tries to stake its claim for future growth? The PUC MUST consider this precedent.
- Many of the properties along this proposed route are preserved farms. Landowners gave up the right to develop the land, but yet are under threat of having the land seized by the state for development of power lines. This is not right!
- If you seize preserved land for power lines, you risk alienating anyone who would want to preserve his or her land. It will mean fewerconservation easements, and the ones that are made will be more expensive.
- Preserving a farm makes it a target as Transource has admitted that they seek to impact the fewest number of landowners.
- Our river area supports four hydroelectric dams (York Haven, Safe Harbor, Holtwood, and Conowingo), two nuclear reactors (TMI and Peach Bottom), one coal & gas plant (Brunner Island), and several gas-powered plants. We have done more than our part for this region and need to start saying no more often.
- The line hurts our local agribusinesses. Transource had hundreds of miles of options, yet they managed to hit the largest orchards and horseback riding businesses in this part of the county. Their siting process doesn't seem to value local businesses that rely on the environment.
- The PUC should take notice that no one has agreed to sell an easement south of the substation. Eminent Domain should only be used sparingly... using it against the majority of landowners is something you'd see in China or Russia, not the USA. Freedom and personal property mean something here!
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