In the Press...
Two River Times Article on Monmouth Co. Powerlines'Powerline Opposition is Charged up'Two state senators have recently thrown their hats in the ring, opposing a utility project that would run through the heart of Monmouth County. Along with them, a local grassroots group, which has seen support grow steadily since inception, is doing everything it can to fight the project. Senators Joseph Kyrillos and Jennifer Beck (both R-Monmouth) have recently introduced three resolutions to the state Senate which would call for various entities across New Jersey to oppose the Monmouth County Reliability Project (MCRP), which is spearheaded by Jersey Central Power and Light company (JCP&L).Kyrillos and Beck are the latest to formally oppose the MCRP, joining a slew of other politicians. Among them are U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Assemblywoman Amy Handlin, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, 10 Bayshore mayors and the five affected township committees. “This project is no more welcome today than it was 25 or more years ago when JCP&L shelved it due to the blistering public opposition and other available options,” Kyrillos said in a statement. The duo called upon U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez, New Jersey’s representation in the House of Representatives’ and Governor Chris Christie to act and oppose the project. Also mentioned were the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), along with NJ Transit, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Board of Public Utilities, where the MCRP petition was filed. The MCRP, as currently proposed, would be a 10-mile long, 230-KV transmission line that would span five towns through Monmouth County. The line would begin in Aberdeen, travel through Hazlet, Holmdel and Middletown and end in Red Bank, all along the NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line commuter line right-of-way. The project’s estimated cost now stands at $111 million.
Since the end of May, when residents who live within 200 feet of the proposed corridor first received letters from JCP&L informing them of the project, a small group called Residents Against Giant Electric (RAGE) began going door-to-door to educate neighbors of the project. Now, nearly four months later, RAGE has taken major steps in its effort to halt the MCRP. “We are incorporated, we are in the paper work phase of having applied for our 501(c)(4), which is a non-profit status for the IRS tax code,” said RAGE spokeswoman Judy Musa. A core of six members has helped RAGE grow since day one. They are: Rachael Kanapka, president; Steve Lunanuova, treasurer; Terri Vilardi, Middletown vice president; Rich Scotto-Lavino, Holmdel vice president; Frances Haies, Hazlet vice president and Jennifer Aquino, executive secretary. The group, which also has a strong social media presence across Facebook and Twitter, has nearly 4,400 followers combined who are tuned into daily announcements. Along with the uptick in supporters, online signatures come in daily via an online petition opposing the project. As of Sept. 20, 6,271 people have filled out the petition on Change.org. One of the benefits of using social media is spreading the word about local fundraisers. “RAGE is representing over 6,000 members; all the money that we make is going to the lawyer fees at this point,” said Vilardi, who also deals with fundraising and government relations. “We used it for marketing, we used it to educate the public, but now the focus of any incoming money that we raise has to go to our legal fees.” RAGE has partnered up with numerous local restaurants and companies to help raise funds. In August and September, the group hosted a night of enter tainment, with appearances from Brian Kirk, The Havens and Vinnie Brand, at Windansea in Highlands. Two other restaurants, Texas Roadhouse and The Red Oak Diner and Lounge, both held events where proceeds of sales went straight to the group’s bank account. Businesses such as Five Below promoted RAGE by giving 10 percent of sales from purchases at the Holmdel store to the group during a back-to-school sale from Sept. 6 through Sept. 13. “We’re doing things at different price points so that people of various incomes can support us,” Musa said. Attending local town functions is also paramount to RAGE’s awareness campaign. “I have to say, all the fundraisers that we’ve had so far have been very successful,” said Oak Hill resident Chrissy Maiorana. “We’ve had a lot of traffic, a lot of people come out, and they’re excited and happy to do it, so I would say we’ve had a pretty good response to all of our fundraisers.” Among the public events the group attended were the Friends of Clear water Festival, Aberdeen Day and Hazlet Day. RAGE will be represented at Middletown Day on Sept. 24 at Croydon Hall and the Holmdel Harvest Fest, which is planned for Oct. 1-2 at Bayonet Farms. The group’s style of gathering grassroots support has spread to essentially every politician with a constituency in the affected areas. “Senator Kyrillos has met with the RAGE group and they have an open line of communication with our office,” said Tony Perry, the director of legislative affairs for Kyrillos. Kyrillos and Beck are the latest to formally oppose the MCRP, joining a slew of other politicians. Among them are U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Assemblywoman Amy Handlin, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, 10 Bayshore mayors and the five affected township committees. “I basically spend my days making sure that everybody who promised to help us is actually helping, and I’m still trying to get new people on board,” Vilardi said. She also plans to sit down with gubernatorial candidate and Middletown resident Phil Murphy in the coming weeks to gauge his interest level on the subject. “Now we have all of our ducks in a row,” Musa said. “The reality is JCP&L has now filed its petition, so it’s real, its live.” |
