Public Utilities Commission appeals fed's powerline decision

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Nov. 5 filed for rehearing with the U.S. Department of Energy over its National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor for the Mid-Atlantic region. They also filed suit against the designation in U.S. District Court. “The commission remains committed to ensuring that our ability to act on behalf of Pennsylvania’s needs is not weakened when it comes to deciding where and if a transmission line should be sited,” said Commission Chairman Wendell F. Holland. “By filing with both the Department of Energy and before the federal courts, we are protecting all avenues of appeal to ensure that state’s rights are protected when it comes to transmission line projects.” “The commission will continue to fight action that puts unbounded authority in the hands of the federal government who may not act in a manner that has the best interests of Pennsylvania at heart,” said Commissioner Tyrone J. Christy. “Given that the Department of Energy ignored the comments by the states in the previous proceeding, we wanted to ensure that we explore every opportunity for making certain that vital decisions about Pennsylvania continue to be made in Pennsylvania.” The corridor for the Mid-Atlantic region includes 52 out of the state’s 67 counties, including Monroe Pike and Wayne.