Bill Text: NJ SR73 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and North American Electric Reliability Corporation to reassess reliability and redundancy standards imposed on power grid and implement new standards to substantially benefit communities and minimize environmental, social, and aesthetic detriment.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-09-26 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee [SR73 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-SR73-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH M. KYRILLOS, JR.
District 13 (Monmouth)
Senator JENNIFER BECK
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and North American Electric Reliability Corporation to reassess reliability and redundancy standards imposed on power grid and implement new standards to substantially benefit communities and minimize environmental, social, and aesthetic detriment.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation to reconsider certain reliability and redundancy standards for electric distribution companies.
Whereas, Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), one of the four electric public utilities in this State, has proposed to construct a 10-mile-long, 230 kilovolt electric transmission line along a New Jersey Transit Corporation railroad right-of-way between Aberdeen Township and Red Bank Borough; and
Whereas, The proposed plan, named the Monmouth County Reliability Project (MCRP), would require over 140 monopoles to be placed along train tracks, approximately 500 feet apart, to support a 230 kilovolt power line, and range in height from 140 feet to 210 feet with an average distance to property lines ranging from 10 to 12.5 feet; and
Whereas, The MCRP's proposed route is through a densely populated area of Monmouth County where there are over 400 families whose homes directly abut the route, with thousands more who live within close proximity, including three elementary schools, two senior living communities, a nature preserve, wetlands, and a registered historic district; and
Whereas, There will be several negative impacts on the communities of Monmouth County as a result of JCP&L's proposed electric transmission line, including a decrease in property values for the areas near the proposed transmission line because of factors that; include, but are not limited to: invasive construction and maintenance, vegetation mitigation such as the removal of vegetation and the spraying of herbicides and pesticides, concerns over noise produced by the transmission lines, as well as concerns that the transmission line will grossly change the aesthetic identity of the historic district; and
Whereas, A decrease in property value will result in a decrease in property tax revenue, which will affect the ability of communities in Monmouth County to fund their schools, police and fire forces, and sanitation workforce; and
Whereas, The MCRP is estimated to cost $111 million, which will be passed on to New Jersey residents through electric rate increases on their monthly bills; and
Whereas, JCP&L has not demonstrated that the proposed transmission line is necessary to ensure the reliability of the electric grid in the Monmouth County area; and
Whereas, The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation should reconsider certain reliability and redundancy standards that regional transmission organizations impose upon electric distribution companies; and
Whereas, These reliability and redundancy standards are responsible for the proposed MCRP and similar projects which are invasive to our communities' aesthetic integrity, environmental and historical preservation, and overall quality of life; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for this House to respectfully urge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation to reconsider reliability and redundancy standards which are responsible for the proposed MCRP and similar projects that are invasive to our communities; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation to reconsider reliability and redundancy standards which are responsible for the proposed Monmouth County Reliability Project and similar projects that are invasive to our communities, and implement new standards to substantially benefit communities and minimize environmental, social, and aesthetic detriment.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to each member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and to each member of the executive management group of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation to reconsider reliability and redundancy standards which are responsible for the proposed Monmouth County Reliability Project (MCRP) and similar projects that are invasive to our communities.
Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), one of the four electric public utilities in this State, has proposed to construct a 10-mile-long, 230 kilovolt electric transmission line along a New Jersey Transit Corporation railroad right-of-way between Aberdeen Township and Red Bank Borough. The MCRP would require over 140 monopoles to be placed along train tracks, approximately 500 feet apart, to support a 230 kilovolt power line, and range in height from 140 feet to 210 feet with an average distance to property lines ranging from 10 to 12.5 feet
Further, there will be several negative impacts on the communities of Monmouth County as a result of JCP&L's proposed electric transmission line, including a decrease in property values for the areas near the proposed transmission line because of factors that; include, but are not limited to: invasive construction and maintenance, vegetation mitigation such as the removal of vegetation and the spraying of herbicides and pesticides, concerns over noise produced by the transmission lines, as well as concerns that the transmission line will grossly change the aesthetic identity of the historic district. A decrease in property value will result in a decrease in property tax revenue, which will affect the ability of communities in Monmouth County to fund their schools, police and fire forces, and sanitation workforce. The MCRP is estimated to cost $111 million, which will be passed on to New Jersey residents via electric rate increases on their monthly bills. JCP&L has not demonstrated that the proposed transmission line is necessary to ensure the reliability of the electric grid in the Monmouth County area.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation should reconsider certain reliability and redundancy standards that regional transmission organizations impose upon electric distribution companies. These reliability and redundancy standards are responsible for the proposed MCRP and similar projects which are invasive to our communities' aesthetic integrity, environmental and historical preservation, and overall quality of life.
