Organizers of the StopTransource Franklin County group will provide a review and update of the Transource Independence Energy Connection Project on Monday, Oct. 7, and will bring in a guest speaker who has battled similar projects.
The 6 p.m. meeting will be at the New Franklin Community Center, 2500 New Franklin Rd., in Building #2.
The Independence Energy Connection Project proposed 29 miles of 135-feet tall transmission towers to span eastern Franklin County with each mile holding five to seven towers. Franklin County residents joined together to protect Franklin County. While StopTransource was originally successful in blocking the plan, it has since been approved to move forward.
PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization for Pennsylvania, approved the Transource Project in 2016. Within the year, Stop Transource — a group of landowners, citizens and community leaders — formed with a goal of opposing the Transource Project at the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
Ultimately, the diligence and determination paid off, StopTransource members said. In May 2021, the PUC denied the Transource applications and rescinded the state PUC certificate of public convenience.
The journey continued as Transource filed state and federal lawsuits and appeals ensued. In July 2024, Franklin County Commissioners approved a settlement agreement and ended its opposition to the planned transmission project. Yet, StopTransource remains committed to its original goal of protecting Franklin County.
Along with the review and update of the Transource Project will be a discussion about protecting Franklin County from future threats.
In addition to the local agenda, Keryn Newman will be the guest speaker. Newman is a community activist and a model for citizens engaged in protecting their homes. She was successful in opposing the West Virginia PATH (Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline) Project, which was initiated in 2008 and defeated in 2017. Recently, a successor to the original PATH project is being proposed. Newman maintains a lively and information-filled blog at https://stoppathwv.com
