Report favors Route 528 path for power line

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

By Glen Miller

A report issued by the Ohio Power Siting Board's staff supports FirstEnergy Corp.'s selection of a cross-country corridor to the east of Route 528 as the preferred route for siting a proposed 138 kilovolt transmission line.

The 83-page report, issued Aug. 12, is based on the OPSB staff's analysis of the 14.7-mile preferred route, which runs cross country through Huntsburg, Montville and Thompson townships, and across the southem border of Lake County, and the 12-mile alternate route along Clay Street through the three townships.

OPSB staff indicated FirstEnergy evaluated existing transportation corridors within a 120-square-mile study area, including the former B&O railroad, Route 608, Clay Street, Route 528 and Plank Road. Several cross-country corridors also were evaluated and potential route segments were identified within each corridor and between corridors. The route segments were joined in various combinations to form 893 candidate routes, the report said.

"In staff's opinion, the applicant's (FirstEnergy's) route selection process was reasonable," the report concluded.

The staff's conclusions were based on environmental, social and economic impacts of the two primary routes. The analysis also involved visual observations of the two routes and talks with local residents, according to OPSB spokesman Matt Butler.

The report also noted a second alternate route staff asked the company to evaluate, siting the power line along the Maple Highlands Trail and through Chardon, ranked 209th out of 894 routes evaluated. As a result, FirstEnergy found the route not to be viable for consideration.

"They (staff) cannot look at that route (Maple Highlands Trail and Chardon) because it is not in the (FirstEnergy) application. They can only look at and consider what is in the application. The company submitted two routes, the bike path not being one of those," said Butler.

The staff report is one of several factors the OPSB will rely upon in making its decision on the location of the transmission line.

"It has weight. It (OPSB staff) is a party in the case," Butler said. "The board will look at all the documents in the case, including the staff report, the company's application, all the letters and other documents we've gotten from the cities, CARE (Citizens Advocating Responsible Energy) and other groups."

Comments made and testimony given during three public hearings scheduled to start next week also will be considered. Those hearings are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at Ledgemont Elementary- Middle School in Thompson Township; 1:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at Huntsburg Township Hall; and 6 p.m. Sept. 10 at Huntsburg Township Hall.

"The report is the staff's recommendation to the board. It is important, but so are other factors the board will consider," Butler added.

Even though the preferred route would impact more farm land than other alternate routes, the staff report said "agricultural activities will still be possible and the impacts will generally be of a temporary nature."

If the preferred route is selected, roughly 63 acres of woods would have to be cleared to make way for the transmission line, which will be mounted on 80-foot-tall wooden poles. In addition, 30 percent of the preferred route crosses agricultural land. It also crosses 57 streams and 64 wetlands, according to the staff's analysis.

The alternate Clay Street route would cross 30 wetlands and 5 percent less farmland than the preferred route.

Overall, the staff concluded the preferred route "presents the minimum adverse environmental impact," provided FirstEnergy follows conditions the OPSB will set its approval of the route.

Both routes cross several roads, including Mayfield, GAR Highway, Huntley, Chardon-Windsor, Leggett, Plank and Clay.

Six residences are within a 30-foot right-of-way of the Clay Street alternate route and would have to be removed. The preferred route comes near several homes, although the report said none would have to be moved.

In addition, the report said at least 43 homes would be "greatly affected" by the alternate route and are "generally small, with less space to minimize impacts of a transmission line."

The estimated cost of the preferred route is $7.8 million, while the cost of the Clay Street route would be $8.6 million.

FirstEnergy spokesman Mark Durbin said the company is pleased with the OPSB staff's favorable support for the preferred route.

"We're pleased they agree with our interpretation of all the data about the two routes. We've said all along the preferred route is the best route, but it's just a part of the process. We still have the public meetings that are coming up."

Consideration of a third alternate route also has been raised by state Sen. Timothy Grendell, R-Chester Township. He has recommended routing the transmission line along the Geauga and Ashtabula county lines in Thompson, Montville and Huntsburg townships.

Grendell said he has written the OPSB and asked it to consider the route. He also intends to pitch the route to the OPSB during the Sept. 10 public hearing.

A resolution supporting the newly-suggested route was withdrawn from consideration by Chardon City Council last Thursday following a report by FirstEnergy Area Manager Mia Moore.

The company considered Grendell's suggested route, but it was found unsuitable, she said.

An analysis of the route, which included aerial photographs and other data, "suggested that ecological and environmental impacts are likely to be too substantial to permit a successful outcome in the regulatory process," according to a FirstEnergy report Moore provided to city council.

There are significantly more streams, wetlands and forested areas than compared to other evaluated routes. In addition, the number of residences in the county-line area is about the same as the number of residences along other routes that have been studied, "which means that similar social impacts could be expected," the report said.