Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to host hearings on proposed Transource power line
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — Local residents finally will have their chance to speak to Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission officials this week about Transource Energy’s proposal to construct 29 miles of overhead high-voltage power lines through the heart of Franklin County, Pa.
The commission will decide whether to grant Transource the authority to build the lines.
Two administrative law judges — Elizabeth H. Barnes and Andrew M. Calvelli — will hear testimony Tuesday and Wednesday in Franklin County. The public input will be used by the commission in ruling on the Transource application.
County residents will have four opportunities to address the judges at the New Franklin Fire Department social hall at 3444 Wayne Road in Chambersburg. Public input hearings will begin at 1 and 6 p.m. on both days.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the hearings and provide comments. They don’t need to be directly affected by the proposed power line to testify.
Transource also has applied to build 16 miles of high-power lines in York County, Pa. Earlier this month, the commission conducted four similar public input hearings there that drew nearly 500 concerned residents and more than 100 speakers.
Testimony given at the hearings will become part of the record on which the commission will issue its final decision.
The commission is offering the following tips on how to participate:
• Prepare what you are going to say beforehand. Even though it is not required, you might want to write out your statement.
• Bring copies if you are attending an in-person hearing. If you have a written statement you would like to give to the judge, bring copies for the court reporter and other participants.
• Understand that parties in the case might want to ask you a question to clarify something you said.
The commission already has received hundreds of protests and letters of opposition.
Several hundred Franklin and York county residents and lawyers representing various parties in the case gathered in March in Harrisburg, Pa., for a pre-hearing conference.
