Manuscript Group 442 YORK COUNTY CITIZENS ACTION GROUP RECORDS ON THE GENERAL PUBLIC UTILITIES CORPORATION AND DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT 1991-1994
2 cubic feet
On September 11, 1991, four electric utility companies, Duquesne Light Company, Metropolitan Edison Company, Pennsylvania Electric Company, and Jersey Central Power and Light Company submitted a joint application to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for the construction of a proposed 268 mile, 500 kilovolt transmission line. The proposed line would have extended from outside Pittsburgh to Three Mile Island in Londonderry Township. The application received much protest and opposition from citizens.
The York County Citizens' Action Group opposed the construction of the line. In July 1991, presentations were conducted by the General Public Utilities and Duquesne Light Company indicating their plans to construct a transmission line. Then in opposition to the proposed line, the York County Citizens' Action Group held its first public meeting with an attendance of 400-500 citizens on August 19, 1991. The group was unanimous in its opposition to a line anywhere in Pennsylvania. Direct action was taken when Attorney Susan Shanaman was retained. The group became active in voicing its concerns. The opponents raised three primary concerns: potential health problems, lower property values, and environmental damage. They distributed informational pamphlets and flyers about the project, held fundraisers and rallys, and attended the Public Utility Commission meetings and hearings. The group also provided the citizens with information on measures they could take to oppose the line, such as filing complaints and attending informative meetings to discuss the issues.
The group was successful in its efforts. On December 10, 1993, General Public Utilities pulled out and filed a "Petition for Leave to Withdraw from Proceedings of Metropolitan Edison Company, Pennsylvania Electric Company, and Jersey Central Power and Light Company." The project was terminated.
The records, which were obtained from the York County Citizens Action Group, include the following:
Correspondence
Legal Proceedings pertaining to the hearings of the General Public Utilities and Duquesne Light Company transmission
Literature relating to the project
Meeting Agendas
Newsletters
Newspaper Clippings
Pamphlets and Flyers
Video Tapes:
Citizens Action Group Public Meeting, November 11, 1991
Network Earth CNN, June 28, 1992 Public Utility Commission Public Hearings, October 6, 1992, four tapes
Public Evidentiary Hearings, October 19, 1992, three tapes
