Ardentown adopts transmission-line ordinance, conditions a Delmarva exemption on detailed remediation plan

Ardentown adopted a local ordinance restricting new high-voltage transmission infrastructure and voted to require Delmarva Power to meet several conditions before any exemption from Ardentown’s height limit will be considered.

At the village’s Sept. 8 meeting, the Board approved the Draft Ardentown Transmission Line Infrastructure Ordinance — which prohibits new electrical transmission lines and tower infrastructure at or above 60 kilovolts within 100 feet of any Ardentown residential housing unit — by a recorded vote of 35 in favor, 0 opposed, 3 abstained. The ordinance includes enforcement provisions authorizing fines of $1,500 per day for continuing violations and states it takes effect immediately upon adoption.

Town Chair Melissa Parsonson, who reported on Delmarva’s request for an exception to Ardentown’s 100-foot height restriction, told attendees that Delmarva has proposed alternative routing options but that some alternatives would substantially increase project costs. Parsonson said Delmarva reported that alternatives could add approximately $3 million up to $16 million in incremental costs; she also reported that Delmarva had estimated the total project cost at about $20 million to be spread to Delaware customers over 30 years.

Separately, the village passed a motion to consider granting Delmarva an exemption from Ardentown Ordinance 2025-01 only after Delmarva provides a written project report delineating project phases and timelines, ingress/egress access points to the easement, a stake survey of the easement area, a post-project repairs and remediation plan for non-easement areas, a lead remediation proposal, and coordination with trustees on a maintenance plan for the easement area. That motion passed with a recorded vote of 38 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstained.

The ordinance’s findings, adopted as part of the text, assert several harms including environmental impacts to the village forest, the potential spread of invasive species, concerns about pesticide use by power companies, soil lead contamination associated with existing towers, and unspecified health and safety concerns related to electromagnetic fields. Those findings are presented in the ordinance as the village’s basis for the prohibition and enforcement provisions; they were not accompanied by new technical studies during the meeting.

Next steps identified at the meeting: Delmarva must provide the written materials and remediation proposal specified in the exemption motion before the trustees and village formally consider any variance or exception. The ordinance itself took effect on adoption, and the village retained the right to pursue further legal action to enforce compliance.

The record of the Sept. 8 meeting indicates the village expects Delmarva to deliver the requested documentation and to coordinate remediation and maintenance planning with local trustees prior to any construction activity within the easement area.