YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Lawmakers and other elected officials from across York and Lancaster Counties are voicing their opposition to a proposed $2.3 billion hydroelectric dam project.
The project includes the construction of a 225-foot high, 1.8-mile dam and power turbine pumped storage facility in Chanceford Township, York County, along the Susquehanna River.
Costs have increased from $2.1 to $2.3 billion.
The lawmakers' opposition comes after the Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC) accepted a preliminary permit application for construction.
There is a 60-day period for public comment and then FERC has up to 60 days to decide whether to issue the permit.
"The sole purpose of a preliminary permit, if issued, is to grant the permit holder priority to file a license application during the permit term. A preliminary permit does not authorize the permit holder to perform any land-disturbing activities or otherwise enter upon lands or waters owned by others without the owners’ express permission," according to FERC.
According to the project's developer, York Energy Storage, LLC., the preliminary permit, if issued, doesn't guarantee whether or not the project will happen. It doesn't grant much other than the ability to continue studies on the project.
"We're willing to do that because I've been through that before," said William McMahon of York Energy Storage. "There's nothing here that's a killer issue with this project."
On Tuesday, U.S. Congressman Lloyd Smucker (R-11), along with other legislators and elected officials who represent York and Lancaster Counties, announced they would be signing a joint letter of opposition to the project.
"There's so much more that brings these counties together than divides us, and I think the river itself unites both counties," said Congressman Smucker. "We, as elected officials representing both counties, stand here today united to announce our opposition to the preliminary permit application submitted to FERC for proposed construction of a hydroelectric pump storage facility at Cuffs Run."
“You are not welcome here. Go somewhere else," said State Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York County), about the project's developers.
“It would uproot families, it would impact preserved farms and it would damage the natural beauty that so many of us have worked to preserve along the Susquehanna River," added Congressman Smucker.
Conservancy groups say the project would flood 580 acres of land along the Susquehanna River, an area they say is rich in natural, cultural and recreational resources.
“Those things are under threat when we see an effort to come in from an outside group and potentially take land," explained Josh Parsons (R), chairman of the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners.
It would also flood out dozens of residential properties.
McMahon, who has been involved with the project for over 30 years, told FOX43 that the proposed location is the best on the east coast for this kind of project, due to its elevation and proximity to the river.
“We’ve done those studies before, there isn’t a better site," said McMahon. "Unfortunately there are people that live there, have lived there and maybe want to live there in the future."
If the project comes to fruition, McMahon says those impacted will be justly compensated.
"We feel bad about having to interfere with people's farms, people's houses, people's land, but when we're finished those people will be justly compensated. We understand the impact that could be personal but basically there are very few people that are involved. It may be up to 50 people but what we're doing is benefitting future generations."
Proponents say the project creates renewable energy, which York County's president commissioner believes the county is already doing its fair share in.
“We already have three dams along the Susquehanna, as well as we have three active solar projects going on right now," explained Julie Wheeler. "One in Conewago, two in West Manchester, and one in Dover. Couple that with Peach Bottom, which is also clean energy.”
McMahon says opponents of the project don’t have all the facts.
"They don't really understand the benefits that this project will provide to their constituents, they haven't invited us, they haven't talked to us directly," said McMahon. "It would have been smarter, in my personal opinion, if they would have contacted us and let us talk to them and get our side of the story before they came out publicly and took a position so I'm a little sorry about that, but that's what it is."
He says he has only talked directly to the York County Economic Development team.
"The future is we're going to have a lot of our old power plants shutting down and there's nothing to replace them except renewable energy," explained McMahon. "The fact is [projects like solar and wind] don't work all the time."
He also says there are other local benefits, including the creation of 300 jobs over five years.
"There aren't many projects around here that will be that good to the construction industry of the central Pennsylvania region," said McMahon. "There will probably be 25 to 50 permanent jobs, high-paying, high-technical jobs that will be benefitting us."
He also tells FOX43 that taxes will be lowered through the project.
"There are about 49 parcels in our region right now and they have a total assessed value of nine million dollars. Probably our project is going to cost about $2.5 billion, but the assessed value will be lower because a lot of our value is below ground which isn't taxable," explained McMahon. "So let's just say we'll be at $500 million assessed value. That's fifty times more tax revenue that will go into the area than does right now. That will lower township, school, and county taxes."
He continued, “Nobody there knows that, nobody has asked us, we haven’t been given the chance to talk to them, but we’d love to do that.”
"We expect to keep the trail open, we expect to not hurt anything on the lake," said McMahon. "In fact, we're going to benefit the lake."
Public comments can be submitted to FERC through March 31.
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