March 29, 2017 MCRP Hearing at Brookdale Community College

The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) conducted this public hearing to obtain evidence in order to make a recommendation to the BPU on whether JCP&L should be allowed to use the NJ Transit right of way to construct a 230kV power line from Aberdeen to Red Bank.

You can read the Asbury Park Press for a quick take on what transpired during the meeting.

Pallone Voices Opposition to Monmouth County Reliability Project at Public Hearing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2017




Long Branch, NJ – Last night, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) voiced his opposition to the Monmouth County Reliability Project (MCRP) at a public hearing held at Middletown High School North in Middletown, NJ. The hearing was overseen by Office of Administrative Law Judge Gail M. Cookson, as part of the process to determine the recommendation she will be making to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) on whether the BPU should approve the MCRP. Pallone also asked that additional public hearings be held to ensure that all those potentially impacted by the MCRP have an opportunity have their voices heard.

Congressman Pallone is opposed to the project, as he was when the project was proposed over two decades ago. Last week in a letter to James Fakult, President of Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), Congressman Pallone called on JCP&L to withdraw the proposed MCRP. The plan for JCP&;L’s new transmission line would impact Aberdeen, Hazlet and Middletown in Pallone’s district and run along New Jersey Transit’s North Jersey Coast line.

Earlier this month, the state Rate Counsel released a number of technological alternatives that could increase reliability without requiring the construction of a transmission line like MCRP. Towns and community groups share this opposition to the project, including Residents Against Giant Electric (RAGE), who reached out to Congressman Pallone express their concerns. Residents in affected towns are worried that the project is harmful to the public health, environment, and economy of their communities.

Congressman Pallone's statement for the hearing can be found below:

Thank you Judge Cookson for holding this public hearing on the Monmouth County Reliability Project (MCRP). I also want to thank the many citizens of the communities this project would affect for making their voices heard tonight.

When this project was first proposed last summer, I voiced a number of concerns about the need for and effectiveness of this project. After careful study and consultation with my constituents, I come before you today to ask that you recommend that the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJ BPU) reject the MCRP.

My opposition to this project stems from two primary issues; my skepticism that the MCRP is the best and most cost-effective way to ensure reliability in Monmouth County, and the near universal opposition from the communities that would be affected by this project.

As you know, this proposal comes from Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L), which is a subsidiary of the Ohio-based FirstEnergy Corporation. The stated objective of the MCRP is to increase electrical reliability for customers in Monmouth County. The project is very similar to a project proposed some 25 years ago that was strongly opposed by local communities and groups before being withdrawn.

The MCRP includes constructing a 10-mile, 230-kilovolt transmission line, running from Aberdeen along the New Jersey Transit corridor right-of-way through several Monmouth County communities before terminating in Red Bank. In order for the MCRP to move forward, JCP&L must receive approval from NJ Transit to construct along its right-of-way in addition to securing the approval of the NJ BPU. . NJ Transit has not yet issued a decision on the MCRP.

Ever since this project was initially proposed, I have articulated concerns about whether constructing MCRP is necessary to accomplish JCP&L’s stated reliability goals. I do not question that JCP&L has had issues with reliability in this area over the years, and ensuring the reliability of electric utility services is indeed important. In the past, building a new transmission line may have been the only way to increase reliability. However, now there are other options available to meet reliability standards. Other options, including distributed generation and various new grid technologies, can not only increase reliability, but also modernize the grid, providing more flexibility and efficiency.

Unfortunately, it is clear that instead of exploring these alternatives, JCP&L determined that it wanted to build a transmission line, and that was that.

If JCP&L was serious about improving reliability with minimal disruption to the lives of those who live in the communities along the proposed route, it would have fully explored all alternative solutions which would satisfy the standards set forth by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). A more complete assessment of all alternatives would enable NJ BPU and the affected communities to determine the most cost-effective and least disruptive option to accomplish reliability goals.

I am not alone in expressing misgivings about the MCRP. Earlier this month, the state Rate Counsel submitted a number of comments on the MCRP to the NJ BPU. The Rate Counsel questioned the necessity of the project for meeting its proposed goal of increasing reliability of the portion of the grid serving Monmouth County. In addition to describing the use of alternative technologies such as static compensators, distributed generation, and other new grid technologies, the Rate Counsel expressed concerns about how the proposed route was chosen and potential problems associated with co-locating the lines with NJ Transit railway service.

It is not just elected and government officials expressing concerns about this project. There has been continued opposition from communities along the proposed route. Ever since this project was proposed last year, my constituents have communicated their concerns about this project. One of the issues raised by community members is the impact the MCRP could have on the value of their homes. Specifically this relates to the height of the line and the poles that this plan states are necessary, which will be up to 210 feet tall in places. In November, I joined Congressman Chris Smith, NJ Transit Board Members, state and local representatives, and concerned citizens on a tour of the proposed power line route. I was able to see firsthand the proposed height and width of these poles, and I heard directly from the people who would be most affected by the completion of this project.

As I expressed in the letter I sent to JCP&L’s President, Mr. James V. Fakult last week, when all of these concerns and issues are put together, it is clear that MCRP is not the best or most cost effective way to increase reliability in Monmouth County. I believe, the company should explore other alternatives to constructing this disruptive project.

Judge Cookson, I respectfully ask that you advise NJ BPU to deny approval of the MCRP.

Thank you again for holding this hearing and for your consideration of my views and those of my constituents in this important matter.

Who Made a Difference to You?

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter:

This is Teacher Appreciation Week. I suspect you know a teacher who would welcome your appreciation.

Recently, I took the time to track down my ninth-grade math teacher. He was a very creative teacher who showed us students some of the many facets that make up that rich subject.

It turns out that my one-time teacher has retired to California. He remembered me as a student, but had no idea what I’ve been up to since my teenage years. He told me my call meant a lot to him. I know it meant a lot to me to express to him my memories of his course and the difference he made.

One of New Jersey’s Most Valuable Natural Resources

Over the last few years, wind has become a major source of energy – not just a curiosity, but a fast-growing part of our energy supply. Nationally, wind delivers more than 4 percent of our power, and over the last five years it has provided nearly a third of new generating capacity.

New Jersey has more wind potential than nearly any other Atlantic U.S. Coastal state. Planned federal lease sales off of New Jersey’s coast could result in up to 3,000 MW of offshore wind power, enough to power 1 million homes.

Earlier this week the Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a $6.7 million grant to help us harvest that potential. The money will support the next phase of review and development of the Fishermen’s Energy Atlantic City Wind Farm, a five-turbine, 25 MW demonstration project slated for construction just off the New Jersey coast. Following a review of progress on the project, DOE expects to provide an additional $40 million.

To make this project a reality, we will need support from Governor Christie and the Board of Public Utilities, who have so far stalled progress at every step. I hope that this week’s funding leads the Christie Administration to reconsider its obstruction. The federal government is very literally offering us free money to begin to harvest our winds to create energy and create jobs. We can’t afford to say no.

What’s Your Story About the Minimum Wage?

Last year New Jerseyans voted by a large margin to raise our state’s minimum wage to $8.25 an hour. But we can do more.

Together with nearly 200 other members of Congress, I have cosponsored the Fair Minimum Wage Act, which would increase the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour and would increase minimum wages for tipped workers, such as restaurant servers.

My Democratic colleagues on the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce are seeking stories from individuals, organizations, and businesses about how increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour would affect working families and local communities.

To share your story, please e-mail me through my website.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

Coalition Demands Verizon Stop Treating NJ As 2nd Class Citizens By Forcing Substandard VoiceLink Service

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, March 19th, 2013


“Don’t Hang Up On NJ” Launches Website & Petition Calling For Telecom Companies To Stop Forcing Customers Onto Unregulated/Untested/Outdated Product

(TRENTON, NJ) – Today, “Don’t Hang Up On New Jersey” – a coalition of more than 30 consumer advocates and labor/community organizations representing over one million New Jerseyans – announced a campaign demanding telecommunications giants, like Verizon, immediately stop forcing customers off traditional copper line phone service and onto a substandard, unregulated wireless product called VoiceLink. The coalition has launched a petition on their new website, calling on the NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to take action and investigate VoiceLink’s feasibility for widespread residential and commercial use.

You can view – and sign – the petition at www.DontHangUpOnNJ.org/bpu-petition/

Today’s launch comes amid revelations that companies are actively cutting service lines to copper-wire landline phones and forcing customers onto wireless alternatives, rather than repairing the cables. Widespread VoiceLink deployment will have a devastating impact on New Jersey’s residents, in terms of both their safety and economic future. Seniors, the disabled, first responders and small businesses all depend upon reliable, quality, affordable phone service. And VoiceLink fails to meet any of these criteria.

The coalition also hailed the recent advancement of A2459 - a bipartisan-supported bill mandating a moratorium on forcing customers onto VoiceLink while its feasibility is considered. Last week, the bill passed the Assembly Telecommunications Committee without a single vote against it. Coalition organizers said the legislation is necessary because the BPU is failing to protect consumers and exercise its regulatory authority.

VoiceLink is an unregulated product that relies on obsolete technology that powered mobile phones over a decade ago. Essentially, it’s just a router affixed to a customer’s home or business, delivering substandard wireless service through their phone.

· If the power goes out, VoiceLink will not work unless its battery back-up is constantly filled

· Many medical devices - such as pacemakers - that require tests over phone lines are unable to be transmitted

· Credit card transactions won’t work – affecting small businesses

· Fax transmissions and deaf relay services won’t work

· Many burglar and home security systems will not work

· Network congestion could slow down 911 calls during emergencies

· Emergency calls could be routed to nearby call centers instead of the closest one, meaning precious seconds could be wasted waiting for the correct local agency to be found

While SuperStorm Sandy brought out the best in so many New Jerseyans, it brought out the very worst in Verizon. Following the hurricane, Verizon decided that rather than rebuilding infrastructure to make our communities stronger, the company would unilaterally evade long-standing consumer protection laws by cutting copper service in places it deemed repairs as too expensive. Instead, they’re forcing customers to take wireless service. Although initially sold to the public as a solution solely in Sandy-ravaged areas, Verizon executives recently admitted VoiceLink will now be deployed across the state regardless of a community’s impact from the storm. Although Mantoloking has received attention for its VoiceLink issues, Verizon executives confessed that 96% of all installations are happening outside that municipality.

To add insult to injury, while Verizon ceased VoiceLink deployment in New York and consented to build high-speed networks in Sandy-devastated areas like Fire Island, the company continues moving full-speed ahead in treating New Jersey as its VoiceLink guinea pig. At last week’s Assembly hearing, Verizon executives admitted that 25% of all VoiceLink customers in America are in New Jersey.

“Verizon is cynically using the shadow of Sandy to install VoiceLink everywhere,” said Ann Vardeman of NJ Citizen Action. “Whether or not you have access to quality communication services shouldn’t depend upon the luck of where you live, how rich your neighbors are or whether your community was harmed by the hurricane.”

“New Jersey’s seniors need access to quality services at an affordable price, and VoiceLink fails to come anywhere close to meeting those standards,” said Douglas Johnston, AARP NJ Manager of Advocacy. “We remain concerned that monitored home services, burglar alarms, medical alert services like pacemakers and communications equipment for homebound and hearing-impaired simply won’t work with VoiceLink.”

“It’s simple: if small businesses can’t communicate, they can’t stay in business,” said Corinne Horowitz, of NJ Main Street Alliance. “Many New Jersey businesses are still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Sandy and struggling to survive. Forcing them onto a telephone product that won’t allow them to do business could be the nail in the coffin for many of our state’s small businesses.”

“Substantial areas of New Jersey are being left out and left behind,” said Bob Master, CWA District One Legislative and Political Director. ”On the other side of the Hudson, Verizon tried forcing VoiceLink onto Fire Island customers. But following public outcry, the company committed to building a fiber optic network and install FiOS services. It’s inconceivable to me that New Jersey will allow its residents to be treated as second-class citizens. VoiceLink is merely outdated wireless technology masquerading as traditional landline service.”

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The “Don’t Hang Up On New Jersey” coalition currently consists of over thirty organizations. As more groups continue to join the cause, please continue to check www.DontHangUpOnNJ.org for updates.

For the latest news and action updates, please follow @DontHangUpNJ on Twitter and join on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DontHangUpOnNJ