PPL search for 40

PPL Electric Utilities is shopping for 40 acres to possibly build an electric substation in West Lampeter Township, causing concern among farmers and landowners in the area who have been contacted by the utility's right-of-way agents.

At least four owners of farmland, including three Amish farmers, have been contacted so far in an undeveloped area near the Pioneer Road and Strasburg Pike intersection.

"They said they wanted to take 30 or 40 acres and stick this thing in our field," said Linn Moedinger, owner of a 10-generation farm on Pioneer Road.

"I basically told them no way in hell."

Three Amish farmers were so concerned that their land might be condemned that they requested the township add their farms to an ag security area. Supervisors added the farms.

The farmers also contacted Lancaster Farmland Trust for advice to save their farmland.

"Our right-of-way agents have been reaching out to see if any landowners are interested," said Jessica Long, a PPL regional affairs director. "We are merely looking to acquire land in case we do need to put a substation in that area down the road.

"This practice is not uncommon for us to do throughout our service territory, as it can sometimes save our ratepayers money if we buy the land before market values rise. Typically, if we then end up not needing the land down the road, we can sell it to an interested buyer."

Long says PPL couldn't speculate on how large the actual substation would be as it would depend on the size of transmission lines it serves. Transmission substations usually serve tens of thousands of customers in an area.

A substation takes voltage from transmission lines and steps it down or up so that it can be transferred to homes and businesses.

When a new substation might be needed will depend on future customer demand for energy in the area and additional development.

As for the possibility of using eminent domain to acquire land, Long said, "Our goal is to work with the landowners as much as possible and find someone who is willing to sell their land and work with them to offer a fair price."

Condemning land for the project, Long emphasized, "is our absolute last resort."

Not all of the land would be used for substation equipment, she said. Some would be used for protection against stormwater runoff.

Farmers have been approached about a willingness to sell land on both sides of Pioneer Road. High-voltage transmission lines currently pass through the area between Pioneer and Rockvale roads.

PPL notified West Lampeter Township officials in June that they were searching for land in the area, said Dee Dee McGuire, township manager.

"The township at this point is kind of waiting to see how they (PPL) move forward. Obviously, we are concerned about the location of a facility like that in the township," McGuire said.

"It's something we are keeping an eye on. It is a very pretty, bucolic area of our township that is mostly farmed."

Housing developments such as Hunters Ridge and Country Meadows are located nearby to the north.

Jeff Swinehart, deputy director of the Lancaster Farmland Trust, said the area of farmland was valuable "as a sort of buffer from development. Our view is we want to see as much productive farmland in Lancaster County as possible."

He said the three Amish farmers who contacted the group "realize it could be detrimental to their operations and the viability of their operations."

All three farmers have farms about the size of the acreage that PPL is seeking, he said.

Moedinger and the Amish farmers have told PPL about a tract of farmland north of Rockvale Road that may be available. That tract would be inside an Urban Growth Boundary and is zoned for residential use.

Moedinger and his family own 150 acres. He said three large towers for the PPL main transmission line run through the property and PPL added switching equipment on about an acre of land.

"On one hand, I understand the utility thing. But I can't at this point negotiate. They’ve done enough damage."

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