Stig, I don't think the issues that AN upgrade isn't necessary, it's more that THIS exact upgrade isn't necessary. Instead of spending millions running wires through a national park from a coal burning plant, PSE&G could be spending that money building wind turbines or solar facilities that would bolster the power in this area without the need for outdated technology. Instead of looking to the future, PSE&G is holding on to the past. They may make a few more dollars today, but it will cost more in the long run as the price of coal and oil continues to rise.

PSE&G would spend this money because they have a guaranteed rate of return on the investment, irrespective of whether the line is needed or not. They get their investment returned plus they get a return on their investment. Why not?

The electricity still has to get from where it is generated to where it is consumed, so it has to run through somebody's back yard. As for wasting money just to make money, that's another Lib myth. No one is building transmission lines unless they can make a return because of the volume of electricity running through them.

"Supposedly the work was needed to prevent power outages. There were none this year. That doesn't mean there won't be any in the future, but so far, PJM's predictions have not come true."

Funny. I've had several outages this year. Perhaps the writer can send me some of his juice.

For those suggesting wind; stig is right. There still needs to be transmission. Oh, and I assume you all have switched your electricity to the higher cost 'green' choices. If not, seems a bit hypocritical.

Finally, this stuff can take years. I don't necessarily trust PSE&G not think they are particulalry well run, but our electrical grid is a disaster. The interconnects are ancient technology etc. I don't know that this addresses any of this, but we need the job done.

Personally I favor micro-nukes which should reduce some of the need for massive transmission lines. But I'm guessing most of you don't want that low cost, efficient, power generation either.

PSE@G is not spending it's money it's spending OUR money. The profits will go back to IT's shareholders not us. Spokey your outages were caused by the weather not by shortages. What is the half-life of your mini-nukes? "The company will NOT lose money on the purchases, regardless of the result of the power line proposal. Because the Susquehanna-Roseland plans have been described a "reliability" project, PSE&G will be REIMBURSED by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission"

watcher, you are correct about the weather. But then again we are asked to conserve during heat waves. Asked to turn off air conditioning while at work, etc. The electric company offers discounts for people who will install smart meters, allow the company shut down their air conditioners if needed etc. Seems to me all that indicates shortages.

I don't know anything about mini-nukes or even if there is such a thing. The life span for micro-nukes is around 30 years. Some info on a Toshiba proposed for Galena AL. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshiba_4S

Spokey this energy is going to NYC not to NJ at no cost to the power company, and all the profits to the stockholders, not the people who have to look and deal with the over 180 ft high towers that have to be fixed with a guy hanging off the side of a helicopter. As for the micro-nukes (sorry I typoed mini) you are left with storage of radioactive material for 30 years (according to your source). BTW wikipedia is not allowed in schools as resource material.

watcher;

"Spokey this energy is going to NYC not to NJ "

One of our country's problems is the rampant parochialism. Although I don't have much use for NYC, other people do. including NJ dwellers. And I'll bet even some of those near those power lines.

"wikipedia is not allowed in schools as resource material."

Good thing I'm not currently in a school then<g>. Seriously, though I agree it often has mistakes, but then again so does every other resource I use. And I'd be really surprised if every last school of any kind in this country bans the use of wikipedia. So rather than an ad hominen attack on wikipedia (hmm is that even possible?), perhaps you could point out the errors for the edification of us all.

Spokey I was not attacking you. As far as NYC, do we really need all those advertising lights? That electricity is not being used to do work or for air conditioning etc. As for Wikipedia I was hoping you could give us more information from other more generally acceptable sources. I for one am not for burying more radioactive materials, we've had enough radioactive accidents already. We have radioactive materials washing up on the shores of the West coast now.

put it in your yard then if you like it so much

Check your facts! Monopoles in some areas, yes, but (to use your terminology) huge Eiffel Towers that are more than twice the size of those already in place in many other areas, including the ones that run through Jefferson Twp. And, how is this good for 99.9% of the population when the additional capacity is not needed? Power usage is down and predicted to decline. PJM stated brownouts / blackouts by 2012 if these weren't built by then... has that happened? NO!

For all the NIMBYs - Please disconnect yourself from the grid BEFORE you come here and whine. Then you might have a case. As long as you are sucking in power, you have no grounds for complaining.

Power usage is expected to decline? Umm... an uptick in the economy when Romney gets elected and emissions standards leftover from the Obama administration that force all carmakers to make plug-in hybrids mainstream will cause extreme levels of power brownouts, blackouts and unaffordable prices.

Bruce - Jefferson Twp. isn't exactly a quaint town. It has out of control commercial sprawl and some seedy businesses. Furthermore, I can't believe the state Ok'd two traffic lights on Rt. 15. That is 10 times worse to me than larger electric line towers. Another 3 days of my life wasted so some idiot can make a safer left turn onto a one way road.

@ state park: If oyu bought a place next to an existing right of way you have to suck it up. It's like the bozos who buy an estate next to a farm for the "country living" and then complain about the smell. Too bad.

O.K., I'm going to venture into VERY dangerous territory here... here goes... don't count on Romney (if elected) to turn the economy around, at least not anytime soon. I'm not a big fan of the Dems, but you may recall the economic meltdown came to a head under Bush Jr. (Republican) and as he was exiting office after 8 years. As for those traffic lights on Rt. 15, if you live here and travel that road as much as I do, you should appreciate them... can't tell you how many times I've almost been creamed at those intersections on the northbound and southbound sides!

This is not the first story about the lines. I believe the Herald called it "hush money" when PSE&G came through to buy the land they needed. Other towns refused needless to say (again) we took the money without a vote.

They can and should be buried, but that would be more expensive than using the existing right-of-way and methodology currently in place. It's all about dollars and cents / profits for big business and certainly utilities, and in their case without regard for, among many other things, environmental impacts.

And what happens when it floods? The power goes out.

The "new" lines need to be worked on while they are still live by a man hanging off the side of a helicopter.

Bruce – Yes, Yes, they can and should be buried! However, if they were to do that, you wouldn’t be able to afford your power bill, unless of course you’ve busted you behind, worked hard, acted thrifty, invested wisely, and became one of those ugly one percenters!

Coal plants are not cheaper to run than natural gas plants, now that there is abundant gas from the Marcellus Shale. There just aren't any enough natural gas plants in NJ right now.

Beth Ann perhaps you didn't see the documentary on tap water that you could set fire to, and now they have to truck in water to drink. http://marcellusprotest.org/the-big-deal-about-marcellus. PSE&G plans to send the electricity to NYC where they can charge more money. It will not benefit NJ.

Trimming trees? You are soooo sadly mistaken if you think that's all they are doing! There is heavy rock-splitting equipment already working in the right-of-way in Jefferson, so a wee bit more than just "tree trimming." And, please explain what the "internet so controlling our lives" has to do with "those tower upgrades being necessary." You lost me there!

Bruce. Where do you think we get electricity from? A wall outlet? You must be from Jefferson.

Freda's Sugar Daddy - How the heck does your comment back to me have anything to do with the subject at hand?? And, I AM from Jefferson, and weez up in deez here parts git are 'lectric from hampster wheels! Get serious, please!

Correct! The only time we lose power is during a storm when trees along right-of-ways in need of maintenance fall on their lines. Hey... here's an idea! How about taking some of that $1.2 billion earmarked for this project and doing a little housekeeping along the right-of-ways? This way, we wouldn't lose power for 2 - 3 days at a clip! And, gee, if they'd hire more crews to do this, they would actually be creating jobs! Naaaah... makes too much sense, now that I think about it!

Do you know if it's even possible to bury 500kv lines? I see rocks exploding from steam pressure when things heat up...

The topography of our township presents significant challenges for underground electrical service—i,e., $$$ . Some homes in the township have such service because developers absorbed the costs of providing it. The rest of us depend on power hanging from poles, subject to wind, ice, and snow.

The lines have to be worked on while they are still LIVE

Would love to hear how PSE&G justifies this! Certainly tells you something about their priorities, eh?