Hey PPL, How About an "Open House" in a Community Affected by Your High Power Bug Zappers?

If you live anywhere in the northern hinterlands of Lehigh or Northampton County, you might soon see (and hear) a 500,000-volt power line going through your back yard.

Buzzzzzzzzzzz.

In Northampton County, the proposed line runs through Lehigh, Moore, Bushkill, Plainfield and Lower Mount Bethel Townships. This, of course, is for our own good because PPL just loves us to pieces. Besides, it should zap some of those pesky insects.

To prove its sincerity, this gigantic power company has just conducted a few "open houses" concerning its proposed Lehigh Valley route, known as Route C. I went to the Northampton meeting, ate sugar cookies and talked to PPL dudes and dudettes in green shirts. They were very nice. They even sent me a "thank you" letter.

"I wanted to take a minute to extend my personal thanks to you ... blah, blah, blah." The letter was addressed to "Neighbor."

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Funny thing.

No power line is going through Northampton. So why the hell would PPL schedule a meeting there? If they were hoping that farmers in Northampton County boonies would get lost, they were mistaken. They must have us mixed up with Lehigh County. The dudes and dudettes in green shirts must have sent out a lot of "Dear Neighbor" letters.

And now Northampton County Council has unanimously adopted a last-minute Ron Angle resolution demanding that PPL conduct another "open house" in one of the communities actually affected by the power line. Angle is already threatening to picket PPL and chain himself to Johnny Mañana's (that's with a ñ, damn it!) until Allentown Mayor Pawlowski brings a part-time cop to arrest him. The Ron Angle One.

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Drop the Lines also reports that Lehigh Township Supervisors may tonight vote to oppose the power line for economic and environmental reasons and stuff like that.

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.