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PSE&G to continue installing higher poles in Ridgewood, despite complaints
Thursday August 8, 2013, 12:15 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
RIDGEWOOD — A representative from the Public Service Electric and Gas Co. told the Village Council on Wednesday night that the controversial installation of 65-foot-tall utility poles on Hope Street and Spring Avenue would resume before the weekend.
David Hollenbeck, PSE&G’s regional public affairs manager, told the council that crews would return to Ridgewood on Friday to erect more poles.
A total of 78 poles — which PSE&G started installing four weeks ago — will go up. They are designed to handle up to 69,000 volts of electricity. The new poles will connect high-voltage lines from a Fair Lawn substation to one in Paramus.
I am all for the reinforcement of our power grid infrastructure.
Just don’t do it on MY street!
Residents at the meeting threatened there may be civil disobedience when the work resumes on Friday. Stay tuned.
There will be no civil disobedience. And if there is, I hope they are arrested and sent to county. This is ridiculous.
I really feel sorry for the residents. If you buy a house near a hospital, you can expect ambulance sirens nearby. If you buy near train tracks, you can expect to have noise and vibrations. But if you buy on a quiet, tree-lined street, it is reasonable to expect that telephone poles will not double in height and exceed the height of the trees.
However, the PSEG people last night made a lot of sense too. Their description of how that route came to be seemed reasonable. Their explanation of why we need more power also seemed to make sense.
It is not an easy dilemma to resolve. Seems that PSEG is within their rights to move forward, having already been delayed for a month. I think any kind of lawsuit from Ridgewood will be at great expense and with no yield…….except it could make the Mayor look good.
Pucciarelli was great last night. His comments were clearly researched, thoughtful, and sensible. Aronsohn was more or less grandstanding and getting applause, but not offering anything to the conversation.
The people from the neighborhood were awesome, it really is great to see how people can come together as they have. Their presentations were great. Sadly, I do not think they will get their way.
What happened to the Council’s promise of support to these residents? If PSEG has permission to put these poles in this neighborhood, who approved it on the town’s behalf?