Residents urge council to oppose PPL Sugarloaf route; council passes resolution urging PPL to consider alternatives

Dozens of residents from Sugarloaf, Black Creek and surrounding townships urged Luzerne County Council on Aug. 26 to oppose PPL Electric Utilities’ proposed 12‑mile, 500‑kilovolt Sugarloaf transmission line and to press the utility for alternative routing or undergrounding. County Council adopted a nonbinding resolution encouraging PPL to “listen to the concerns of residents and consider alternatives” by a 10–1 vote.

The measure, amended on the floor to replace a disputed phrase about land classification with language that the proposed line “will run through land that is populated with homes and families,” does not order PPL to change its route or pause permitting. It urges the company to engage further with residents and local officials and was presented to the council after more than an hour of public testimony opposing the project.

The public comment period generated repeated themes: health risks from electromagnetic fields (EMFs), loss of property value, use of eminent domain, inadequate local outreach and a call to rescind LERTA (Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance) tax breaks the speakers say would benefit out‑of‑area developers who stand to gain from the power supply. “Vote yes on the resolution opposing PPL’s proposed 500 kV transmission line through southern Luzerne County,” Dr. Andy Sanko, Sugarloaf Township, said, calling the project “exploitation” of local landowners. Brenda Rizzo, of Black Creek Township, described the towers as “monstrosities” and said PPL had offered her a nominal easement payment; Mark Raybo of Hazleton and others urged the council to press PPL on using TIF/TIF‑like tools and on alternatives such as undergrounding where technically feasible.

PPL’s written statement, submitted by Alana Roberts, Manager of Community Relations, and read into the record by county staff, says the project is intended to meet projected electricity demand growth in the Greater Hazleton area and that it would use existing rights‑of‑way to minimize environmental impact. The letter said the company anticipates construction in spring 2026 with completion in fall 2027 and that PPL expects required review and approval by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC). PPL also wrote that it plans to use typical access roads of about 20 feet and that it would not create a permanent 200‑foot service road.

Council members…