Holmdel Board of Ed. Votes Against JCPL Plan

Holmdel, NJ - The Holmdel Board of Education has joined the Hazlet Board of Ed. and the Hazlet Township Committee in outspoken opposition to JCP&L's power line plan.

At their Thursday night meeting, the Holmdel Board of Ed. unanimously approved a resolution expressing their opposition to the Monmouth County Reliability Project, a 230-kilovolt transmission line proposed for the NJ Transit right-of-way between substations in Aberdeen and Red Bank. The power line would enter Holmdel along the Transit line where it crosses Bethany Road, close to Holmdel homes and not far from Indian Hill School. (Here's Patch's latest story on who's really pulling the strings behind the power lines.)

The Middletown school district, by contrast, has chosen to stay neutral, pointing out that the Middletown district does not have any property within 200 feet of the lines, unlike some other districts.

“There is tremendous uncertainty and a host of unknowns related to the health risks involved in the proposed project and we want to make sure our residents - and especially the students and staff of our school system - are protected from harm," said Holmdel Board President Joe Hammer. "There are certainly alternatives that could be implemented to ensure the safety of our community and we implore JCP&L to consider them.”

The full text of the resolution is as follows:

Approval to Oppose the Jersey Central Power & Light Monmouth County Reliability Project

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board approve the following resolution opposing Jersey Central Power & Light Monmouth County Reliability Project as follows:

WHEREAS, the Holmdel Township Board of Education has been encouraged to oppose Jersey Central Power & Light proposed Monmouth County Reliability Project which will run along the New Jersey Transit’s North Jersey Coast rail line, and
WHEREAS, this rail line and the new proposed transmission line run close to the Indian Hill School, and
WHEREAS, these transmission lines will produce an electric and magnetic field, and
WHEREAS, there are concerns that some epidemiological studies have shown that these types of transmission lines may possibly be unhealthy, and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that for the health and safety of the students of Holmdel, the Holmdel Township Board of Education formally opposes the proposed Monmouth County Reliability Project.

Patch file photo of the Holmdel Board of Ed.