Wantage committee votes for power line

WANTAGE — The Wantage Committee, on Thursday, Aug. 13, unanimously voted to support Jersey Centeral Power and Light's new seven-mile transmission line through Morris County.

The line starts at the Montville substation andd travels to the Whippany substation in East Hanover.

JCP&L representative Jacqueline Espinoza explained the project will improve and stabilize the already existing grid/right of way. In addition, the transmission line will affect more than 86,000 people, including Wantage Township.

She also said PJM, a regional transmission organization which coordinates the movement of electricity in 13 states, including New Jersey, recommended fixing the weak link, so the substations in Sussex County are adequately supported by the Morris County substations.

Deputy Mayor Ronald Bassani said after Superstorm Sandy, he demanded the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities hold JCP&L accountable to improve its equipment in order to protect Wantage Township from similar extended electrical outages experienced after Sandy. He said the new transmission line was consistent with what he had requested.

Committeeman Jon Morris agreed that these upgrades are well overdue, “whether we pass a resolution or not.”

JCP&L filed a petition on March 27 to the BPU for the new transmission line. A decision is anticipated from the BPU within one year of filing. The committee previously received a request from Montvale not to support the project.