Resident voices strong opposition to proposed Shawnee Walker transmission line, raises eminent domain concerns

Taylor Miza, a local resident and self-identified representative of a community group, told the Pike County Board of Commissioners that FirstEnergy's proposed Shawnee Walker 69 kV transmission line would cut roughly 30 miles across the county, require 60-foot easements and involve metal towers she said could reach 90 to 95 feet. "These are very large structures," Miza said, urging commissioners to take an official position and to press FirstEnergy on route changes and potential use of eminent domain.

Miza told the panel she had reviewed public materials and correspondence and said parts of Pike County are already on the PJM grid, contrary to some claims that the project would add the county to PJM. She also argued the project would not produce lower bills for residents because transmission costs are commonly recovered through charges passed to customers. "They actually pass these costs along to the consumer," she said, citing a separate line item and referencing utility oversight studies.

Miza and other speakers highlighted two central concerns: local reliability and property rights. Miza said the 2018 outages that prompted regional reliability reviews were largely caused by damaged distribution lines that feed homes, not transmission corridors. She said a single transmission redundancy likely would not prevent long outages for residents whose distribution feeders remain vulnerable. Miza also said several property owners along proposed routes have refused easement offers and that the company may seek eminent domain, naming a Quinn family parcel as an example.

In response, a commissioner acknowledged prior county outreach to FirstEnergy and to regulators and said the county had requested alternative routes in earlier correspondence. The commissioner noted the project aligns with a Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission recommendation dating to 2019 that identified needs for enhanced transmission in some areas. Another commissioner said similar transmission investments in other parts of the county have improved reliability but agreed there are no guarantees the same outcome would occur here.

Commissioners said they would continue to press for route alternatives and to coordinate with state legislators and township officials. They told speakers the county had previously written to the utility and regulators seeking more information and that forthcoming meetings with state lawmakers would be public. Miza said she and supporters had gathered a physical petition and planned further correspondence with county offices.

The public comment concluded without formal action by the board. Commissioners said they would follow up with FirstEnergy, the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission and local supervisors and would share updates at future meetings.