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Citizens Against Kemptown Electric Substation C.A.K.E.S
We are Frederick County citizens determined to prevent the highest voltage electric substation ever built in the United States by Allegheny Energy. The 765kV capacity substation is part of Allegheny’s PATH project and is proposed to be built in the middle of our established Mount Airy/Monrovia neighborhoods. Over 1300 homes, a children’s center and 2 elementary schools are within close proximity to the proposed site of the massive, EMF radiating substation which may extend the length of 8 football fields. Allegheny Energy has not yet notified residents of the actual area or height of the proposed substation. Nor have they reported how many additional high voltage transmission towers will be built in our community. Also disconcerting is the fact that Allegheny Energy and PJM did not consider any other alternative location for what they call the “Kemptown Substation.”
Our peaceful community will be harmfully impacted by the construction of an electric substation of this magnitude. The health of our environment and the health of our families are at risk. An unprecedented, 765kV high voltage substation is a target for terrorism, sabotage, and vandalism. Disasters including fires and hazardous material leaks can occur at electric substations. The real estate values of our homes also are likely to suffer.
Citizens Against Kemptown Electric Substation is a grass-roots group working to eliminate the dangers posed to our community by the construction of Allegheny’s largest high voltage substation. We are not alone in our opposition and this is a battle worth fighting. From West Virginia through Virginia and Maryland citizen opposition groups have formed and have gained the support of numerous local, state and federal government officials of both political parties.
What Is PATH?
Allegheny Transmissions’ PATH is a proposed high voltage 765kV transmission line that would begin at a dirty coal-fired power plant in Amos, West Virginia. New high voltage power lines and towers would stretch across West Virginia and Virginia, then cross into Maryland through the scenic Sugarloaf area and Urbana. The lines and towers would require a 200-foot wide corridor to be cut through the land, farms, wetlands and forests of individual property owners. This segment of PATH would “end” with the so-called “Kemptown Substation” off of Bartholows Road in Mount Airy/Monrovia.
PATH will cost 1.8 Billion dollars and Allegheny Energy will get a return of 14.3% on every dollar spent on the project. All customers throughout the region will pay higher rates to pay for this line. 86% of the energy generated will supply New York, New Jersey, and other Northeastern states.
We believe that Frederick County will be burdened and harmfully impacted by Allegheny’s PATH even though none of the energy supplied will benefit Frederick County residents.
