Luzerne County Council rejects moratorium on LERTA requests tied to Sugarloaf transmission project

Luzerne County Council voted 9-1 on a resolution that would have placed a moratorium on future LERTA requests for properties to be served by the proposed 12-mile Sugarloaf 500 kilovolt transmission line, effectively rejecting the measure. Councilman Harry Haas was the lone yes vote; nine members opposed the moratorium.

The moratorium was the most contested item on the agenda and drew dozens of speakers during public comment, many of whom urged the council to pause tax-abatement requests and related approvals while the transmission line and potential data-center development were evaluated.

Supporters of the moratorium said the 500 kV line would enable hyperscale data centers and that a pause on LERTA (Local Economic Revitalization Tax Abatement) approvals would give the county time to update zoning and assess infrastructure, environmental and community impacts. “Can you in good conscience defend placing a transmission line of this industrial magnitude so close to people’s homes?” asked…