Well there it is, we were able to find the original route, the route that First Energy tried to scrub from the internet. Thankfully, people remembered the existence of this and now we have the proof.

The original route made extensive use of state game-lands and appears to be far more out of the way in respect to homes when compared to the current route as proposed. Unfortunately, it appears any homes in close proximity to sub-stations would still be affected, and there are still the baseline concerns regarding development and the environment. However, this brings up serious questions: Why was this change made? Why does the current route avoid state game-lands, and go through people's homes instead?

More importantly, why did they seek to affect more people and build along a gas line using the new route when this by all accounts seems much more tolerable? What changed and who was involved?

Regardless, this is a huge development and it’s something we can now definitively point to regarding alternatives.

Also, it seems they have updated the available maps of the project online, it’s now far harder to gauge where the project moves over a broader area and orient oneself due to the snap shot like nature of it. They’re also using severely outdated satellite images that don’t even show 5 year old houses, thankfully we still have the old map! 😉

Thank you to everyone that continues to dig and find new information, we can all do more when we work together and please spread the word that they don’t have to route it as stands, better and less intrusive routes exist!

What is FirstEnergy doing in Pike County?

  • Putting massive high-voltage towers on private land, public parks, and even residential neighborhoods
  • Threatening to seize property rights through Eminent Domain
  • Clear-cutting the forests we all love
  • Changing the rural, countryside nature of our area

What is the Shawnee-Walker 69kV Line?

  • A newly planned, extremely high-voltage transmission line crossing Pike County and Monroe County.
  • This is not a normal power line.  We're talking about a huge high-voltage system on massive towers.
  • Cuts across private land without the consent of property owners.
  • Cuts right down the middle of Akenac park

What towns are threatened?

  • Delaware Township
  • Dingman Township
  • Lehman Township
  • Milford
  • Shohola
  • Bushkill
  • Middle Smithfield Township in Monroe County

Is my community threatened?

Yes, if you live in any of these communities:

  • Birchwood Lakes
  • Meadow Ridge Acres
  • Wild Acres
  • Pocono Mountain Water Forest 
  • Woodland Lakes
  • Traces of Lattimore
  • PMLE
  • Ranchlands
  • Saw Creek Estates
  • Pine Ridge
  • Akenac Park, Raymondskill Creek, Swale Brook
  • Adams Creek (Class A stream) and numerous other waterways
  • Family Farms
  • And many more! We are still investigating the full impact of this project

What are the health risks?

  • A 2015 study in the International Journal of Engineering & Technology found that exposure to overhead high voltage power lines increases negative health outcomes:
    • Variety of childhood and adult cancers
    • Miscarriages
    • Alzheimer’s disease 
    • Childhood and adult leukemia
    • Specific types of heart disease
    • Tumor growth
    • Genetic defects
    • Immune system deficiency
    • And other health issues! For a complete list, read the article here: Effect of High Voltage Transmission Lines on Human Health
  • A 2019 study in the International Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine found that living within 1000 meters (3281 feet) increases the risk of female infertility.

Is there a danger of forest fire?

  • Yes.  69kV is a lot of energy.  If a line touched down for even a moment, it would result in temperatures thousands of degrees high, and instant fire.

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