CARE Group Early Intervenor in FirstEnergy Power Line Case

By Doris Cook, Star Beacon, Ashtabula, Ohio

Jun. 25–HUNTSBURG TOWNSHIP — Citizens Advocating Responsible Energy (CARE) opposes a plan by the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. and its parent company, FirstEnergy, to build its 138 kV power line project on a new corridor in eastern Geauga County, says CARE president Jim Galm of Shaker Heights.

Galm said the ad hoc citizens group has 160 people, of whom half are landowners in the townships of Huntsburg, Montville and Thompson in eastern Geauga. The other members are from parts of Ohio. The group’s mission is to seeking responsible energy solutions, he said.

“We are a broad-based support group. Our basic opposition is for FirstEnergy (CEI) to put in a transmission line down a new corridor instead of using its existing power line corridors. In 1995, FirstEnergy planned to build a new substation in Claridon Township on Route 322. It received (Ohio) Power Siting Board permits to do it,” Galm said.

“In 2002, the permit expired, and the substation was never built. We understand the need for improving electric service. It’s where they are proposing to put the new power line that is irresponsible,” Galm said.

CARE has been a party in the CEI application case pending before OPSB for many months, Galm said. The public has two more opportunities this summer to express views for and against this project before administrative law Judge Janet K. Stoneking, who will make a recommendation to OPSB.

“We understand there will be two hearings, one in Thompson and the other in Huntsburg, for public comment and testimony. No date has been set yet,” Galm said.

CARE members hired the Cleveland law firm of Taft, Stettinius and Hollister to represent the group in the power-line siting case.

“Several locations to build the substation in CEI’s application are to put it on Mayfield Road (Route 322) and Clay Street or further east of Route 528 on Mayfield Road, both in Huntsburg Township,” Galm said. “Actually, the location of the new substation is not really relevant. It’s the plan to open up a new corridor when using existing ones would be better,” he said.

The proposed additional power line is designed to supply the Middlefield Village area and Orwell Village in southern Ashtabula County with more reliable electric service, according to Orwell Mayor Larry Bottoms. The existing substations in Claridon and Huntsburg linking power east to Orwell and down to Middlefield are overloaded, say CEI officials.

Both Middlefield and Orwell Village councils have filed to be intervenors in the line case but still have to be approved. Geauga Park District and Chardon officials are opposed to a power line route running north from the Ruth substation in Claridon Township. It would be next to the Maple Highlands recreation trail maintained by the park district.

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