The NIETC Threat to Land Conservation
In the years since its founding, the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association had never filed legal action against any party for any reason. Until now. Late in 2007, PALTA joined in a lawsuit as well as a request for a rehearing on the designation of the Mid-Atlantic "National Interest" Electric Transmission Corridor.

Why these actions? Why now? The creation of the Mid-Atlantic NIETC has created unprecedented threats to decades of heroic conservation work of organizations and communities across Pennsylvania. Federal statutes designed to protect our environment, wildlife and cherished historic sites have been ignored. Important investments made by our state in farmland protection and natural resource conservation may be undone. And the ability of land trusts to engage future landowners to protect their lands using conservation easements is undermined.

The Mid-Atlantic NIETC is effectively a federal condemnation zone which creates new processes for bypassing state and local laws. The fast-tracking of transmission lines is accomplished by overriding state oversight and by making it possible for private companies to use the powers of the federal government to take private property. It is our position that federal eminent domain should be a last resort, not a centerpiece of energy policy. Other viable options for meeting the region’s energy needs should be used before lands are taken away from individual owners and from our communities.

Already there are multiple proposals for new power lines across Pennsylvania. Communities in the southwestern and northeastern corners of the state are the first to be impacted. Homesteads and forests of the southwest, the ridgetops of the Kittatinny Range, the scenic vistas of the Delaware River, farms and historic landscapes near Gettysburg - all are identified as prospective sites for new transmission line projects. In our neighboring states, the proposers of new power lines have targeted Wild and Scenic River areas, areas rich in civil war battle sites and areas with high concentrations of lands protected by conservation easements.

Conservation lands and historic landscapes that were protected for the benefit of future generations need to remain undisturbed. PALTA opposes the designation of the Mid-Atlantic Corridor and the failure to pursue reasonable and viable energy alternatives that would have less deleterious impacts on our environment and our landscape.

From Corridor to Power Lines
The designation of the Corridor paves the way for fast-tracking of individual powerline projects.  What does this mean on the ground for Pennsylvanians?

From this: Corridor Designated by DOE
To this: Current Power Line Proposals
To this: A Long-Term Regional Plan