Does Berkeley Need More Open Space? JCP&L Plans For Cable Under Bay

By Chris Lundy BERKELEY

– A representative of Jersey Central Power and Light told officials that one of the projects coming with a proposed rate hike will be an underwater cable from the mainland to the barrier island.

Ken Brown, external affairs liaison for JCP&L, serves as the face of the company to municipalities. He said during a recent Township Council meeting that one of the improvements is the replacement of a cable that will run 8,000 feet from Pier Avenue in Good Luck Point to 13th Avenue in South Seaside Park. It’s just in the conceptual phase right now but could start in fall of this year.

There are existing lines right now, but they are more than 50 years old and not currently in use, he said.

Brown said that even if JCP&L’s request for a rate increase is approved, the company would still have the lowest rate in the state. Like other budgets, the power company is impacted by inflation and the need to maintain a quality workforce. The payments also help provide a discount to seniors.

After the meeting, JCP&L spokesman Chris Hoenig told The Berkeley Times that the senior discount is

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By Chris Lundy BERKELEY

– Most people would probably answer “yes” to the question in the headline. However, maybe the real question is:

“Would you pay more taxes to preserve more open space?”

As part of a presentation listing the open space that has been preserved over the last dozen or so years, Mayor Carmen Amato noted that a referendum to increase the open space tax to buy even more land could be on the ballot in 2024. The town currently has an open space tax

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