PSE&G Moves Forward With 69kV Power Project In Westfield

WESTFIELD, NJ — Work on the controversial PSE&G’s 69kV project along Central and South Avenues is moving forward despite Westfield's best efforts to stop it.

In a 'Hail Mary' attempt to try and stop PSE&G from starting its power project, the Town filed a Stay application in Superior Court on Aug. 17. However it was denied by the courts.

Westfield appealed the court's decision, but that appeal was also denied. This ended up exhausting Westfield's legal options to stop the project, said Mayor Shelley Brindle at the Sept. 19 Council meeting.

• Related: Westfield Files Motion To Stop PSE&G From Starting 69Kv Power Project

"As a result, our commitment now shifts to working with PSE&G to ensure that they provide all relevant information and details about the project to the community over its approximate nine-month timeframe," said Brindle.

The project will replace roughly 142 existing poles in Westfield, all of which will be made of wood as the current poles are, ranging between 56 and 61 feet above ground (versus the existing 38-43 feet above ground).

Door hangers and letters were sent to residents and businesses along the Central Avenue portion of the route (from the Clark border to South Avenue), and notices will be sent out shortly to South Avenue homes and businesses (from Central Avenue to the Scotch Plains border).

Initial pole work on the southern portion of Central Avenue has begun and PSE&G will continue to coordinate with the Police Department to mitigate traffic disruptions.

According to PSE&G, the proposed electric reliability project in Westfield is part of a statewide plan to upgrade its infrastructure to ensure that the utility can meet the needs of customers today and well into the future. By installing stronger poles and state-of-the-art wires and other equipment, PSE&G has been upgrading its electric system throughout the state to withstand increasingly damaging storms due to climate change and to meet the demand for electricity.

For more information, FAQs, a project route map, and notification letters about the project visit westfieldnj.gov/PSEG-69KV.

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