Holmdel Officially Asks JCPL to Bury Transmission Lines

Holmdel, NJ - It's standing room only inside the Holmdel Community Center Wednesday night, where hundreds of residents showed up, many of them terrified about JCP&L's proposal for megawatt power lines from Red Bank to Aberdeen.

The Holmdel Township Committee voted on a resolution officially asking JCP&L to bury the transmission lines. A copy of that resolution will be sent to Anthony Hurley, JCP&L's Vice President of Operations, the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and Gov. Chris Christie, among others.

"Although Holmdel does not have the ability to hold up or stop this, we felt it was critical to have a meeting to make it known we are against this and we need to stop this," said Holmdel Mayor Eric Hinds. "JCP&L might have a job to do, but we've got property to protect."

Hinds also hinted that Holmdel Township may provide funds to fight JCP&L in court. "This may come down to being a legal fight and we are prepared, OK? We're prepared to fight this," he promised, as the audience broke out in cheers and claps.

Assemblywoman Amy Handlin pointed out that the last time the region fought the power lines and won, Middletown Township filed a lawsuit against JCP&L and spent money to hire at least six expert witnesses. She read testimony from two experts hired in 1989, including testimony from a property appraisal firm who predicted that the power lines would lead to a 30% reduction in property value for homes immediately near the lines. However, all homes in the area would lose value, the appraiser predicted. One Holmdel resident and RAGE member, Debra Draudt-Spiwak, said she heard realtors are already reporting people are turning away from Holmdel because of concern over the power lines.

Mayor Hinds said he and the township's Deputy Mayor Gregory Buontempo met with JCP&L a half dozen times trying to get more answers about the power lines. The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders is arranging a meeting with the 5 other Bayshore area mayors affected by the proposal, as well as with Assemblywoman Handlin, said Freeholder Serena DiMaso.

Members of Residents Against Giant Electric (RAGE) will be testifying at the upcoming NJ Transit Board meeting on July 13. On July 20, RAGE has invited an expert in electromagnetic field radiation from the University of Albany to give a presentation at Raritan High School. That presentation and Q&A will go from 7 to 9 p.m. on July 20. All are invited.