Jersey Central Power & Light has filed a petition with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for a transmission infrastructure project that will result in a stronger, modernized electrical system benefiting nearly 214,000 customers in Monmouth County. The $111 million Monmouth County Reliability Project (MCRP) uses a New Jersey Transit railroad right-of-way between existing substations in Aberdeen and Red Bank and includes a new 230-kV transmission line, substation enhancements and modern technology upgrades.
The petition describes the need for the MCRP, the route selection process, and JCP&L's plans for complying with all regulations and obtaining the necessary permits to protect the health and safety of the public and the environment. It also includes a study conducted by a real estate expert that concludes the project won't impact area property values. The petition is available online for public review, and the BPU will schedule a public hearing to obtain input from interested parties.
"At JCP&L, we're committed to delivering the dependable electricity our customers need to power their homes, businesses and communities," said JCP&L President Jim Fakult. "This filing marks the completion of many months of planning, design and engineering analysis and contains additional detailed information about the project."
PJM Interconnection, LLC, the organization that coordinates the movement of electricity and oversees transmission reliability across New Jersey and 12 other states, has recommended this project be built. The MCRP will allow JCP&L to comply with federal electric transmission reliability requirements by providing an additional source of electricity to this area of Monmouth County.
Following announcement of the proposed project in May of this year, JCP&L conducted a series of public open houses to share information and gather feedback. The company also hosted an informational hotline and launched a website, www.monmouthreliability.com, to provide additional details and answer common questions. Through these channels and its social media platforms, JCP&L has responded to approximately 380 inquiries about the project.
The MCRP is part of JCP&L's multi-year "Energizing the Future" transmission system reliability enhancement program. If approved, construction is expected to begin in August 2017, with a planned in-service date of June 2019. In addition to creating approximately 245 temporary jobs, the project is expected to deliver economic benefits of nearly $43 million in compensation, nearly $60 million in gross domestic product and $12.6 million in state and local revenues.
