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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Deberah Kula |
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Kula attends roundtable discussion on federal electricity corridor
Lawmaker says federal plan would involve 80 percent of Pa. land with little benefit
HARRISBURG, Jan. 17 – State Rep. Deberah Kula, D-Fayette/Westmoreland, attended a roundtable discussion in Harrisburg on Wednesday regarding the federal government's plan to designate 52 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties as part of the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor.
The roundtable, hosted by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and state House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Greene/Fayette/Washington, was part of a continuing effort by federal and state lawmakers from Pennsylvania to fight the electricity corridor proposal enacted by President Bush in 2005.
Kula said the NIETC proposal would impose federal eminent domain, overriding the state’s say on high-voltage power lines and where they can be placed.
"This is a prime example of eminent domain at its worst," Kula said. "The federal government is taking away local control of land, which will have little positive impact on those living in our area. It would simply create huge profits for large energy companies at the expense of local taxpayers."
Kula said panelists at Wednesday's roundtable said the federal electricity corridor plan could undermine local and state efforts to protect open space, as well as hinder Pennsylvania's attempts to conserve energy.
"This proposal would have dire effects on the people of western Pennsylvania," Kula said. "I join with my colleagues in the state House, as well as our federal legislators like Senator Casey, to voice my opposition to this and fight its implementation."
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CONTACT: Bill Thomas
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