Major News in Fight Against JCPL Power Lines: Middletown, Holmdel, Hazlet Hire Lawyer, Engineering Firm

Middletown, NJ - Big news Friday in the fight against JCP&L's deeply hated power line proposal:

Middletown, Hazlet and Holmdel have pooled their money together to hire not only a lawyer, but also an engineering firm. They will represent the three towns as they prepare to take on Jersey Central Power & Light in what's become the biggest battle in the Bayshore region of the past decade.

Bevan, Mosca & Guiditta, P.C., a Basking Ridge-based firm, whose name partner, Murray E. Bevan, Esq. has extensive experience in BPU matters, has been retained to represent the three towns, Middletown's Township Administrator Anthony Mercantante announced Friday.

And Maser Consulting, a large engineering firm with BPU experience, has also been retained to provide engineering services and expertise, he said. Maser is headquartered in Middletown, but the towns will be working with their Albany, New York office, he said. That's because the Albany office is the division with the electrical grid/BPU experts, Mercantante said.

BPU is the Board of Public Utilities, a state-run board that ultimately approves or disapproves of JCP&L's power line request. In August, JCP&L filed its official application for the power lines with the BPU, which you can read, in its entirety, here.

“It is vital that we organize as the affected communities and work in close coordination with one another. We are hopeful that Red Bank, Aberdeen, and any other interested governmental entities join us," said Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger. "The sooner the better, as the schedule for this project seems to be on a relatively fast track.”

The company wants to build an extremely controversial, 10-mile-long high-voltage power line along the North Jersey Coast rail line from Aberdeen to Red Bank. Those opposed say the soaring, 200-foot power lines will be built right in their backyards, and will tower over elementary schools and playing fields. Radiation from the power lines may cause childhood cancer, one expert warns. The lines may emit a constant buzzing noise. Property values will plummet across the board, residents say, in both wealthy communities like Red Bank and Middletown, as well as working-class areas like Hazlet.

JCP&L says the power lines will result in improved electric service and fewer power outages.

"A two-hundred foot high transmission line does not belong in the middle of our residential areas," said Hazlet Mayor Scott Aagre

"The project just does not fit the character of our Bayshore area and should not be allowed," said Holmdel Mayor Eric Hinds.

There is a chance New Jersey Transit will not grant JCP&L an easement to use the North Jersey Coast line's right-of-way. The three mayors said they were "hopeful" that would happen.