Final Hearing Wednesday Night; Christie, NJ Sierra Club Weigh In on Power Line Debate

LINCROFT, NJ - The New Jersey Sierra Club has come out against the JCP&L power line proposal and announced they will be testifying against the project Wednesday night. Meanwhile, Gov. Chris Christie said he hasn't taken an official position, but admonished those against the project, saying "I understand that people don’t like it in their backyard, but they like the electricity in their house when they turn the switch."

The second and last public hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Collins Arena at Brookdale Community College. Anyone who has opinions — either for or against — the Monmouth County Reliability Project is invited to come speak at the hearing, which will be presided over by state Administrative Law judge Gail Cookson. As Patch reported, more than 1,200 people attended the last public hearing on Jan. 25 at Middletown High School North and an estimated 1,000 more couldn't even fit in the building. The Collins Arena can fit 2,000 inside.

Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, said his main concern about the power lines was the risk they pose to bald eagles that nest along their route. As Patch has reported, a pair of bald eagles has been nesting for several years now by Natco Lake.

“Transmission lines are a major killer of raptors like the state-endangered bald eagle and hawks," said Tittel. "At night bald eagles have 3-4 times less vision capability than compared to the day time. This is a particular threat because they can fly into the lines and be strangled. We are very concerned that this transmission line will impact the bald eagle who has nests in the area.”

"JCP&L takes its commitment to the environment very seriously, and the Monmouth County Reliability Project is no exception," said JCP&L spokesman Ron Morano. "Overseeing the permitting, planning and reporting processes for this project is the responsibility of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These agencies will ensure our company is taking every step necessary to protect the environment."

Meanwhile, when asked this week on NJ 101.5 for his thoughts on the power lines, Gov. Chris Christie said he "has not taken a position" on the lines, but also complained about the local opposition.

“Then everybody objects to the pipelines or the power lines. ‘I don’t want them.’ Well how do you expect us to get the energy to be more reliable? These projects are about making these power delivery services tougher, stronger, more resistant to storms,” Christie said. “I understand that people don’t like it in their backyard, but they like the electricity in their house when they turn the switch. It’s a balance, everybody.”

“I like to have the BPU, the Board of Public Utilities, go through their public hearing process, so I can get a sense of what people think and what the arguments are on both sides. Ultimately this is going to be a decision made by the Board of Public Utilities. Can I have some influence on that? Sure,” Christie said. “But I have not taken a position on this issue one way or the other yet because I think the information’s still being gathered and being brought in."