Residents Ask Ridgewood Council to Fight PSE&G Project

Residents of Hope Street and Spring Avenue are furious over 65-foot-tall poles running 69,000 volts of electricity, and they've convinced the Ridgewood Village Council to see what can legally be done to stop it.

As part of a federal interstate energy infrastructure project, PSE&G is running 69,000 volt wires from substations in Fair Lawn and Paramus. Residents of Hope and Spring object to the wires and accompanying 65-foot poles being placed in their neighborhood.

Work began last week to erect 78 poles in Ridgewood but a moratorium has stopped the work until PSE&G can respond to criticism on July 31 in a public forum.

"The process was flawed," said Hope Street's David Steinberger, telling officials they were never notified of the construction. "The commencement of the construction is frankly unlawful." 

The resident – like many others – called on PSE&G to file a bulk variance application with the zoning board to begin a public process.

Many of the 50-plus residents at the council meeting Wednesday were fearful of dangers purportedly posed by the poles and voltage.

Should a large truck hit a pole it would cause an explosion, residents said. Were a pole to fall, residents claimed, it has an extremely high probability of falling on multiple houses.

"What happens during a storm?" asked Alyssa Steinberger. "We flood. We flood a lot. Lines come down, poles come down, trees come down. There are a lot of safety concerns. We want them addressed."

"Our children’s lives could be at risk," added Spring Street's Barry Sands. "Our resolve must be larger than those poles, and our commitment to have them removed must be stronger than 69,000 volts."

Residents worried about the aesthetic impact and potential loss of property value.

"The bottom line for Hope Street is the cost in worry about storms, accidents, living with the fear of unknown dangers to their children, the cost of property values, and the loss of charm," said Jim O'Rourke.

The former school teacher said PSE&G's actions looked a lot like bullying.

"The message is clear to our children, if they look at PSE&G, bullying works."

Angry citizens said PSE&G needs to find alternatives, like different sizes for poles, building underground or through the nearby right-of-way.

"How long are you willing to endure this insane fight?" Frank Segal of Hope Street asked the council. "What you have in front of you is to build a legacy for yourselves....this is absolutely unacceptable. They need to find a different route for these poles."

Village staff said PSE&G has improved its communication over the years, but still has a ways to go.

Though work began last week, permitting wasn't actually submitted until this week, Village Engineer Chris Rutishauser said.

"Some things have slipped through the cracks," he offered to the council.

Rutishauser told residents the utility did not run the lines through the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook right-of-way because of DEP permitting issues but also because the area did not have the clearance for a 69,000 volt line.

Village officials pledged to explore what options it may have. Council members maintained the plans they saw offered no specifics on height or 65-foot-tall poles, adding that the project was cloaked in vague language.

"I think we should look to do more about this," said Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh.

Village Attorney Matt Rogers said they're waiting to hear PSE&G's legal position before responding. Because there's a federal component, it's possible the village's ordinances are overruled, Rogers said.

"The big issue is whether or not we have any recourse and whether we can do anything going forward," said Mayor Paul Aronsohn. "We'll find our way through this somehow."