PECO Proposed Gas Plant Timeline
February 26, 2021- PECO applied to the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission for a "Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity", which, if granted, would allow PECO to steamroller the Marple Zoning Hearing Board's decision to DENY permission for PECO to build the Gas Expansion Plant at the corner of Sproul and Cedar Grove Roads. The link below is an electronic copy of the papers that PECO submitted to the PUC.
https://www.puc.pa.gov/pcdocs/1694879.pdf
January 2021 - Attorneys for the Marple Zoning Hearing Board and the Marple Board of Commissioners enter their Interventions and Appearances to the Court of Common Pleas.
December 22, 2020 - PECO sends another letter to the community in order to dispel opposition.
December 18, 2020 - PECO filed an appeal against the Marple Township Zoning Hearing Board in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas: Civil Action No. CV-2020-008477.
November 23, 2020 - PECO canceled their presentation to the Marple Planning Commission.
November 19, 2020 - Delaware County Planning Department released a report on this project, and recommends disapproval (File number 24-7570-20). Their Comments conclude with: “The applicant should explore other more suitable locations for this building elsewhere.”
(based on plan submitted by PECO on August 24, and received by the DCPD October 26, 2020)
November 18, 2020 - Marple Zoning Hearing Board announced their denial of the Special Exception. That evening DELCO Planning Department is informed of this during their meeting.
November 2020 - PECO published another Natural Gas Reliability Project Update brochure, and also a four-page FAQ document (“Fact Sheet”), which were posted on the Marple Twp. website.
Another Zoom meeting was abused by PECO to restrict residents’ ability to question & comment.
October 27-28 - Zoom meetings and additional telephone conversations, PECO continued to claim that their plan is sound, safe and permissible, while refusing to comply with requests for all-important specific information about their equipment and scientific studies.
October 21, 2020 - PECO presented their appeal to the Marple Zoning Hearing Board and are questioned by Board Members and 9 residents. At the close of this 3-hour session PECO’s attorney requests an immediate decision of the Board, which the Board flatly declines.
October 7, 2020 - PECO sent their second letter, posted small signs on the property, and published local announcements (all as required by law) two weeks prior to the October 21st Marple Zoning Hearing Board meeting.
PECO’s initial letters and brochure were the only documents released to the public by mail, on their website, and on the Marple twp. website.
This letter divided residents into four 1-hour Zoom meetings scheduled for October 27 and 28;
Residents asked PECO to hold these sessions prior to the 10/21 ZHB meeting and were refused.
Several phone calls between PECO and neighbors fail to elicit reasonable responses, as PECO attempts to diffuse concerns, dismiss objections, and refuses to release critical information.
September 2020 - PECO published a September Natural Gas Reliability Project Update brochure.
August 26, 2020 - Having been denied by the Marple Building Code Inspector, PECO submitted their appeal for a Special Exception to the Marple Twp. Zoning Hearing Board.
June 15, 2020 - PECO sent their first letter to nearby residents as required by law, and two weeks later held a Zoom meeting which was attended by <20 neighbors. PECO insisted that the station would be safe and beneficial, while providing essentially no substantive information and glibly deflecting all questions. The attendees had nothing to go on and no way to respond at the time.
https://www.puc.pa.gov/pcdocs/1694879.pdf
January 2021 - Attorneys for the Marple Zoning Hearing Board and the Marple Board of Commissioners enter their Interventions and Appearances to the Court of Common Pleas.
December 22, 2020 - PECO sends another letter to the community in order to dispel opposition.
December 18, 2020 - PECO filed an appeal against the Marple Township Zoning Hearing Board in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas: Civil Action No. CV-2020-008477.
November 23, 2020 - PECO canceled their presentation to the Marple Planning Commission.
November 19, 2020 - Delaware County Planning Department released a report on this project, and recommends disapproval (File number 24-7570-20). Their Comments conclude with: “The applicant should explore other more suitable locations for this building elsewhere.”
(based on plan submitted by PECO on August 24, and received by the DCPD October 26, 2020)
November 18, 2020 - Marple Zoning Hearing Board announced their denial of the Special Exception. That evening DELCO Planning Department is informed of this during their meeting.
November 2020 - PECO published another Natural Gas Reliability Project Update brochure, and also a four-page FAQ document (“Fact Sheet”), which were posted on the Marple Twp. website.
Another Zoom meeting was abused by PECO to restrict residents’ ability to question & comment.
October 27-28 - Zoom meetings and additional telephone conversations, PECO continued to claim that their plan is sound, safe and permissible, while refusing to comply with requests for all-important specific information about their equipment and scientific studies.
October 21, 2020 - PECO presented their appeal to the Marple Zoning Hearing Board and are questioned by Board Members and 9 residents. At the close of this 3-hour session PECO’s attorney requests an immediate decision of the Board, which the Board flatly declines.
October 7, 2020 - PECO sent their second letter, posted small signs on the property, and published local announcements (all as required by law) two weeks prior to the October 21st Marple Zoning Hearing Board meeting.
PECO’s initial letters and brochure were the only documents released to the public by mail, on their website, and on the Marple twp. website.
This letter divided residents into four 1-hour Zoom meetings scheduled for October 27 and 28;
Residents asked PECO to hold these sessions prior to the 10/21 ZHB meeting and were refused.
Several phone calls between PECO and neighbors fail to elicit reasonable responses, as PECO attempts to diffuse concerns, dismiss objections, and refuses to release critical information.
September 2020 - PECO published a September Natural Gas Reliability Project Update brochure.
August 26, 2020 - Having been denied by the Marple Building Code Inspector, PECO submitted their appeal for a Special Exception to the Marple Twp. Zoning Hearing Board.
June 15, 2020 - PECO sent their first letter to nearby residents as required by law, and two weeks later held a Zoom meeting which was attended by <20 neighbors. PECO insisted that the station would be safe and beneficial, while providing essentially no substantive information and glibly deflecting all questions. The attendees had nothing to go on and no way to respond at the time.