Allentown – Plans for a major new transmission line, announced last fall, are beginning to take shape.  PPL will have responsibility for the Pennsylvania portion of the 500,000 volt Susquehanna-Roseland line, between the company-owned Susquehanna nuclear plant near Berwick, and the Delaware River. 

That segment would be part of the PJM Interconnection line that would run from Susquehanna to a Public Service Electric and Gas Co. substation near Roseland, New Jersey.  PSE&G would be responsible for the New Jersey portion of the line.

PPL’s  Paul Wirth, project manager for the line, said they would prefer to use an existing right-of-way, carrying a 230-KV line, from Berwick, to Scranton, then through Wayne and Pike counties, passing near Lake Wallenpaupack. Wirth said they are required to consider alternate routes, as well, but have not finished their study of where they could go.

Asked by PoconoNews.Net if eminent domain might be used to establish a new route, Wirth said that could be an option.

PJM Interconnection, the regional power pool, says the 500kv line is needed to ensure reliable delivery of electricity for the region.  PJM wants the new line in place by 2012.

Wirth said they expect to identify possible routes by this spring, after which public meetings will be held.  The meetings would be scheduled near the proposed routes.  That information, when available, will be posted on the project website at www.pplreliablepower.com