Area residents surrounding the Nesquehoning community gathered at the borough recreation center to learn about a proposed transmission line that PPL is looking to build.

On Thursday evening, in an open house format, members of PPL Electric Utilities stood beside posters outlining the 69 kilovolt transmission line that would traverse 7.5 miles between a new substation expected to be constructed in Tresckow, through Packer and Banks townships, and to the Hauto substation. A second line will then be looped from the Hauto substation over to a property off Dennison Road in Nesquehoning.

Dana Burns, PPL director of communications, said that the goal of the open house was to educate the public on the project that would “meet the growing demand for power in the region, while enhancing reliability and resiliency for customers throughout the region.”

The project, slated to begin in the spring of 2027, includes construction and installation of environmental controls and access roads, as well as new steel transmission structures through a 175-foot right of way between Tresckow and Hauto.

Once started, PPL anticipates that the new line will be in service by December 2027.

According to an outline handed out to residents, the transmission poles will range in height between 70 and 110 feet, with an average height of 90 feet and will include two new 69kV transmission lines, one between the two substations and one from the substation to property off Dennison Road near the Panther Creek cogeneration plant.

While Burns did not say what the second transmission line to the Panther Creek area would be utilized for other than to “serve a customer’s need,” Bitfarms, who owns Panther Creek, announced in August, that it is proposing to construct a data center on property adjacent to the Panther Creek site. No official plans have been announced to the borough as of today.

Some residents came to educate themselves on the project, while others came with their concerns that it would affect the area negatively.

Marcia Evans, a resident in Lake Hauto, said that the proposed transmission line is planned right near the base of the Hauto dam and will impact the aesthetics of the area, as well as possibly cause issues for the wetlands that surround the dam and the deep wells that were dug to supply water to Hauto residents.

She said that she was hearing conflicting information and was there to try and find answers.

“We have a lot of questions,” Evans said, “and we just don’t want to look at them.”

Another longtime Hauto resident with Evans, who didn’t want to be named, echoed Evans’ concerns.

The two agreed that things like these transmission poles take away from the beauty of this rural region.

“Overall our customers are always concerned about infrastructure projects and we understand that,” Burns said. “That’s why we’re here to answer questions. When we hear concerns, we want to address them.”

Some questions she said included hunting in the area where the proposed line would be, rights of way, environmental concerns and the effect this would have on property values.

“We have no kind of history that transmission lines and right of way on property has any impact on property values,” Burns said. “Our team works very closely with all landowners that are affected by the line to make sure they understand everything.”

Residents also had the opportunity to provide written comments, which PPL officials will use as the planning of this project continues.