Pine approves power system improvements near community park by FirstEnergy Electric

Pine supervisors approved a right-of-way agreement with FirstEnergy Electric Co. for the installation of system improvements along Warrendale Road on the frontage of Pine Community Park at their meeting Nov. 3.

Township Manager Jason Kratsas said the project had been in the works for almost a year.

The project will see two new power poles and three anchors installed along Warrendale Road near Pine Community Park.

“We were concerned about the existing vegetation and the future expansion — if we need to expand Warrendale Road to get another access point to Pine Community Park. We had HRG take a look last year at where the poles would be located if we ever need to expand for the addition of a turn lane. This design complements that possibility,” Kratsas said at the meeting.

”Additionally, we had confirmation that the existing trees would not be affected by these improvements. This is an important project for FirstEnergy. They’re trying to provide a better redundant system so that during the outages that we have, they will have better access to the grid. I think it’s a very important project to move forward with but wanted to present the project to the board.”

Chairman Ryan Colombo asked about the possibility of FirstEnergy working with Duquesne Light on the improvements.

“We’re going to have to pull our representatives together to get the two companies talking, but I think a cross-connection would be really good, specifically up here. As you know, during any one of these storms, one of them goes out and the other doesn’t or vice versa,” Kratsas said.

Now that the agreement has been approved, the township will send it to FirstEnergy so the company can take over the project.