Very Important Public Hearing Jan. 25 on Monmouth County Reliability Project

MIDDLETOWN, NJ - On Wednesday, January 25, there will be a very important public hearing held at Middletown High School North — one that may well determine the fate of the Monmouth County Reliability Project.

The hearing will be led by New Jersey Administrative Law Judge Gail M. Cookson, who has significant sway over whether or not the Monmouth County Reliability Project gets built. Jersey Central Power & Light, under their parent company First Energy, seeks to build a 10-mile long, high-voltage power line from Aberdeen to Red Bank. To do so, they must first get approval from the five-person Board of Public Utilities.

However, because the topic has become so controversial — and is detested by so many in Monmouth County — the matter has now been referred to Judge Cookson and the Office of Administrative Law. Administrative law judges are often called in to decide contested matters in New Jersey governance.

And make no mistake about it, this meeting is a very important one. The public testimony Judge Cookson will hear on January 25 will factor into whether or not she recommends the power lines be approved.

"It's a very big deal. This meeting should be thought of as a court proceeding, really," said Rachael Iannucci Kanapka, a Middletown resident and one of the leaders of Residents Against Giant Electric (RAGE). "Everyone who speaks will be testifying on the record before a judge, in a legal setting. This is honestly the one chance every individual affected by this project has to get their opinion heard."

Expect some people to speak in favor of the lines: Some members of the electrical unions will speak in support, because of the jobs it will bring. And Fair Haven Mayor Benjamin Lucarelli is the lone elected official in Monmouth County to support the project.

However, there are "hundreds" of Monmouth County residents expected to flood the meeting, Kanapka said. The mayors of 11 towns signed a petition against the 170-foot high monopoles. The Holmdel Board of Education even moved their regularly scheduled Wednesday night meeting so residents can go to the hearing instead. Residents can also write letters to Judge Cookson (see below.)

One step in a long process

The January 25 meeting is just one more step in a long process, however: The Office of Administrative Law will hold a second round of hearings in mid-April. These are private hearings, closed to the public, at which JCP&L attorneys will present evidence supporting the project, and will be countered by RAGE's own attorney, and the attorney retained by Middletown, Holmdel, Hazlet and Aberdeen to fight the proposal.

Judge Cookson then has up to 90 days to make her recommendation on whether or not the BPU should approve or reject the Monmouth County Reliability Project. The BPU could either accept her opinion, reject it or modify it. From there, either RAGE or any municipality could appeal the Board's final decision.

"We may not have a decision on this until late summer or even early fall," Kanapka said.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Middletown High School North.

"This is it," Kanapka said. "It's the culmination of what we've been working towards for the past seven months. Now's our chance to step up to the plate and show them Monmouth County does not want this project."

JCP&L was required to advertise the January 25 meeting. Here is what they published in local papers and sent out to residents who live within 200 feet of the proposed lines:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Office of Administrative Law has scheduled a public hearing on the Verified Petition under BPU Docket No. E016080750 and OAL Docket No. PUC 12098-2016N, at the following time and place:

January 25, 2017 7:00 P.M.

Middletown High School North

63 Tindall Road

Middletown, NJ 07748

Members of the public will have an opportunity to be heard and/or to submit written comments or statements at the public hearing if they wish to do so. Persons requiring special accommodations because of disability should contact the Clerk of the Office of Administrative Law at (973) 648-7143 at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled hearing so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Written comments or statements may also be submitted directly to the Clerk of the Office of Administrative Law, 33 Washington Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102.

Past coverage:

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

Scientist Outlines Potential Risks Of JCPL Power Lines

Tears, Shouting at JCPL Meeting Wednesday Night in Hazlet