NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Public Service
Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) today said it welcomed the
addition of the Susquehanna-Roseland electric reliability project to the
initial list of projects for a new federal Rapid Response Team for
Transmission, aimed at coordinating and expediting the federal
permitting process for critical infrastructure upgrades. The
Susquehanna-Roseland power line is one of seven projects
eligible for this joint initiative by the White House Council on
Environmental Quality, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the
U.S. Department of Energy and a number of other agencies.
"It's clear the Administration recognizes the importance of this
transmission system upgrade that will maintain electric reliability
for millions of people in our region," said Ralph LaRossa, president of PSE&G. "Since
this project was announced, we have been working closely with state
and federal agencies such as the National Park Service to ensure a
timely review and approval of permits that are needed before work
can begin. We fully understand and support a thorough assessment.
At the same time, utilities need the ability to make these critical
system upgrades in a timely manner. The Rapid Response Team is a
welcome addition to the federal permitting process."
The Susquehanna-Roseland power line is a joint project of PPL
Electric Utilities in Pennsylvania
and PSE&G in New Jersey. The
line will connect substations in Berwick,
PA and Roseland, NJ. The
project already has been approved by both the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and the
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. In addition to maintaining
electric system reliability, the Susquehanna-Roseland project will create more than 2,000
jobs during the multi-year construction of the 145-mile line.
The project is under review by the National Park Service (NPS),
which is performing an environmental impact study. The NPS review
is needed because the route chosen by the utilities crosses four
miles of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, the
Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River and the
Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
The route chosen by the utilities for the Susquehanna-Roseland power line already follows an
existing power line right of way and is the most reasonable path
for this critical improvement to the region's electrical
infrastructure. The route contains an existing power line,
constructed about 80 years ago and long before the park units were
created. The existing line will remain in service once the
additional line is added. Using the existing right of way for the
upgrade will minimize impact on people and the environment.
More information about the project can be found at
reliabilityproject.pseg.com.
Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is
New Jersey's oldest and largest
regulated gas and electric delivery utility, serving nearly
three-quarters of the state's population. PSE&G is the winner
of the ReliabilityOne Award for superior electric system
reliability. PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise
Group Incorporated (PSEG) (NYSE: PEG), a diversified energy company
(www.pseg.com).
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SOURCE Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G)