Commonwealth Edison Company has filed an Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (…) to Construct, Operate and Maintain a new 345 kilovolt transmission line in DeKalb, Ogle, Kane and DuPage Counties, Illinois, otherwise known as the Grand Prairie Parkway Project.
A total of 18 petitions to intervene on the proposed Commonwealth Edison high-voltage power line project have been filed by attorneys for area groups and local homeowners. Groups as diverse as Elgin School District U46 and wind energy advocates are included. The petitions have been filed with Illinois Commerce Commission with respect to the proposed Grand Prairie Parkway project that would carry a 345,000-volt power line on a 57-mile course through DeKalb, Ogle, Kane and DuPage counties. The line would be on steel towers 165 feet tall and have four steel cross arms each with a maximum width of 52 feet.
According to the ICC website, petitions as of Friday have been filed on behalf of the following: Mark Secco of Genoa; William Lenschow of Sycamore, Ronald and Carol Nightingale of Elgin; Lynn and Betty Landmeier of unincorporated Kane County; John Cash and Mary Lewis of unincorporated Kane County; Wayne, Dean, and Dennis Muirhead of unincorporated Kane County; Invenergy Wind Development; the Board of Education of School District U46; the Forest Preserve District of Kane County; the village of South Elgin; the city of Elgin; Kane County; Rob Mason of Elgin; Wind on the Wires, a group advocating for the development of wind energy; John Tomasiewicz of Elgin; Michael and Jennifer Thompson of unincorporated Kane County; Jerry and Kristin Drexler of Hampshire; and Thomas Pienkowski and Kristine Pienkowski of Hampshire.
People may comment on the proposed project at www.icc.illinois.gov. The case number is 13-0657. There are currently over one hundred comments listed.
Many of the comments are from residents of the Bowes Creek Community, a typical senior community in Elgin. The possible future health effects of the high-powered lines are their concern. U46 is concerned because the lines will come close to Otter Creek Elementary School on Hopps Road, which “will negatively impact School District U-46’s use and enjoyment of its property,” according to the court document.
Both DeKalb County Petitioners Mark Seccos of Genoa and William Lenschow of Sycamore own property that would be dissected by the Grand Prairie Pathway project. The properties are their primary residence and both raise livestock. Both DeKalb County petitioners state that the proposed route of the Grand Prairie Parkway Project will interfere with and impair their operations as well as enjoyment of the properties.
ComEd hopes to have a ruling by the Illinois Commerce Commission on the matter by sometime this summer.
Click Here To Submit A News Tip Or Story