New Jersey

New Jersey Homeowners Start Online Petition Opposing Proposed High-Voltage Line

A newly-proposed high-voltage line expected to carry power through a several central New Jersey towns is drawing heavy resistance from homeowners.

More than 1,400 people have voiced their opposition in a Change.org petition to a proposed Jersey Central Power & Light Company line that would run through five Monmouth County towns on poles more than 140 feet tall.

Several other residents said they planned to attend a hearing Tuesday night on the 230,000 volt transmission line, which would run along the North Jersey Coast Line from Aberdeen to Middletown and would cost $75 million.

“These high voltage lines are DANGEROUS! Please fight back,” the petitioners said on Change.org.

The utility said that the line, which would run over more than 300 homes, would help improve electric service for more than 250,000 residents in the county area and that the line is safe to live near.

“Infrastructure is necessary to deliver the services that people need,” said Ron Moreno, a JCP&L spokesman. “And this is part of infrastructure.”

But several families said they are concerned about the line. Tara McGrath of Middletown said she was worried about electric and magnetic fields that could affect her children.

“As parents, how could we allow this to happen?,” she said. “How could we let our children be guinea pigs for future cancer research? We won’t allow it.”

Steve Lunanova of Red Bank said he was worried his property value would fall because of the power line.

“No one wants to live under a power line,” he said.

According to the Asbury Park Press, the project must be approved by the state Board of Public Utilities before it can be built. The utility would also have to obtain permits from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

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