NEWARK, NJ – On Oct. 13, Monmouth County Freeholder Deputy Director Serena DiMaso delivered testimony to the NJ Transit Board of Directors strongly opposing the Jersey Central Power & Light Company (JCP&L) Monmouth County Reliability Project (Reliability Project).

DiMaso provided the information on behalf of the Board of Chosen Freeholders. On July 14, the Board of Chosen Freeholders unanimously adopted Resolution #2016-6026 opposing the Reliability Project.

“The current $111 million plan calls for a 230 kilovolt transmission line with 110 to 210 foot high monopoles with multiple cross-arms,” said DiMaso. “At an average height of 140 feet, these monopoles are proposed to run along the New Jersey Transit right-of-way through the Monmouth County towns of Aberdeen, Hazlet, Holmdel, Middletown, and Red Bank. Keep in mind that the tallest building in Red Bank is Riverview Towers at 159 feet tall (13 stories). By comparison, the few tall buildings in the other towns along the route are less than 100 feet tall. Most buildings are one or two-story structures.”

Earlier this year, JCP&L petitioned the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for a determination that the Monmouth County Reliability Project is “reasonably necessary” for the service, convenience or welfare of the public. For the Reliability Project to move forward, NJ Transit must approve it.

A similar project was proposed by JCP&L in 1989, but was withdrawn in the face of overwhelming opposition.

“Monmouth County would like this project to be withdrawn as well.” said DiMaso. “The Board of Chosen Freeholders has serious concerns related to the health, safety and aesthetics of JCP&L's recent plan. The proposed route traverses residential neighborhoods and passes schools, parks and recreation areas, historic districts, preserved open space, and natural habitats, streams, rivers and wetlands in the Swimming River watershed. As a Freeholder Board we have worked very hard to preserve the bucolic nature of our county and these monopoles will forever change our landscape.”

The Board of Chosen Freeholders also believes the proposed project will have a significant negative impact on local real estate values and lower the tax base in the affected communities, shifting the tax burden to the remaining forty eight Monmouth County towns.

The Board of Chosen Freeholders strongly urges JCP&L to utilize underground conduits for transmission lines for the Reliability Project.

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Statement (as prepared) follows:

Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders Statement Re: JCP&L Reliability Project planned for Monmouth County –

Jersey Central Power & Light Company (JCP&L) has petitioned the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for a determination that the Monmouth County Reliability Project is “reasonably necessary” for the service, convenience or welfare of the public. On July 14, 2016, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders adopted a resolution (opposing the Monmouth Reliability project). A similar project was proposed by JCP&L in 1989, but was withdrawn in the face of overwhelming opposition. Monmouth County would like this project to be withdrawn as well.

The current $111 million plan calls for a 230 kilovolt transmission line with 110 to 210 foot high monopoles with multiple cross-arms. At an average height of 140 feet these monopoles are proposed to run along the New Jersey Transit right-of-way through the Monmouth County towns of Aberdeen, Hazlet, Holmdel, Middletown, and Red Bank. Keep in mind that the tallest building in Red Bank is Riverview Towers at 159 feet tall (13 stories). By comparison, the few tall buildings in the other towns along the route are less than 100 feet tall. Most buildings are one or two-story structures.

The Board of Chosen Freeholders has serious concerns related to the health, safety and aesthetics of JCP&L's recent plan. The proposed route traverses residential neighborhoods and passes:

The Board is very concerned with the impacts of the high-powered lines on the health and welfare of the community and the protection of environmentally sensitive areas.

The Board of Chosen Freeholders also believes the proposed Project will have a significant negative impact on local real estate values. In turn, the decreased values will lower the tax base in the affected communities, shifting the tax burden to the remaining forty eight (48) Monmouth County towns.

For these reasons, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders strongly opposes the proposed JCP&L Reliability Project. Further, the County strongly urges JCP&L to utilize underground conduits for transmission lines for the Project.

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