Residents, Supervisors Rejoice At Ruling

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The Alliance For A Clean Environment

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Congratulations to Concerned Citizens For Limerick's
Future On Their Outstanding Victory

Residents, supervisors rejoice at ruling

By Carl Hessler Jr
chessler@pottsmerc.com

LIMERICK -- News that a panel of Montgomery County judges overturned the land development approval for the proposed Linfield Energy Center was sweet music to the ears of the residents who have battled to stop construction of the 550-megawatt power plant for the last two years.

"It's certainly been a difficult ordeal," said Larry Piasecki, "and time consuming as well. We've been spending so much of our time fighting this when we could have been spending it with our families.

"But it's a good cause, and something that we felt we had to do."

When supervisors' Chairman Tom DiBello read aloud the judges' decision at Tuesday's board meeting many in the crowd erupted in cheers -- and stayed standing, applauding the decision for several minutes -- signifying the culmination of an exhausting and difficult fight to stop FPL Energy and Limerick Partners.

"It was the voice of the people that brought this highly controversial issue to the public's eye," DiBello said.

For DiBello, Joe Greco, Frank Grant and Ken Sperring, it marked the fulfillment of a campaign promise -- and a personal pledge -- to do everything legally possible to prevent the Florida-based company from building the plant; a promise that propelled the four supervisors to an easy victory in last year's election.

"The people spoke," said Grant. "We were just an extension of that voice. Seriously, this project was flawed from start to finish, and it's nice to see that the courts agreed."

Added DiBello: "It's been a long road. We're very excited to hear of the judges' ruling, and hopefully that will put this issue to rest."

It was unknown whether FPL will choose to appeal the decision as company spokeswoman Mary Wells did not return repeated calls for comment.

Obviously, DiBello said, the township hoped they wouldn't appeal.

"Based on all the evidence, I think there was enough to show that the plan was pushed through in haste," the chairman added. "This board from day one felt that all the actions taken (by the previous board) were inappropriate.

"The court appointed independent engineer was hired, and they found issues with the plan. They realized that it was just pushed through with too quickly and we agree."

Reprinted with permission by
The Pottstown Mercury
© October 2, 2002