                |
||
  |
NEWS RELEASES PPL Corporation to Transfer 3,500 Acres of Land
Holtwood, Pa. (Dec. 12, 2007) – PPL Corporation will transfer about 3,500 acres of company-owned land along Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River as part of a broad public-private initiative that will preserve and protect this valuable land while enhancing its benefits to the public, officials said Wednesday (12/12). The company will sell the land to the Lancaster County Conservancy for $5 million, then donate the $5 million to the new owner as part of a sustainable endowment fund that will be used to maintain and enhance the land for public enjoyment. PPL also will provide additional ongoing support to the endowment fund. The majority of the money being paid to PPL for the land will come from the Community Conservation Partnerships grant program administered by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The land is in Lancaster and York counties near PPL’s Holtwood hydroelectric plant. It will be managed by a coalition led by the Lancaster County Conservancy. Other partners key to making the project happen include the Lancaster York Heritage Region, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, The Conservation Fund, and the counties of Lancaster and York. “As a corporation, PPL has a strong commitment to the environment and to the communities where we do business,” said William H. Spence, PPL’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. “We’re pleased to play a key role in making sure this beautiful land will be preserved and will always be available for public use and enjoyment.” “The Susquehanna River is a terrific source of recreational opportunities that allow Pennsylvanians and visitors alike to get outdoors, be active and appreciate its natural beauty,” DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis said. “This land transfer will protect a great regional asset that is important to the stewardship of our natural resources, a thriving economy, tourism and quality of life in an area facing growing development pressure.” “The Lancaster County Conservancy currently has over 3,340 acres already under protection, which leaves us well-positioned to manage these additional PPL lands, protecting wildlife habitats and ecosystems for the continued use and enjoyment of the public for recreation and study,” said Ralph H. Goodno, president and chief executive officer of the Lancaster County Conservancy. "We are extremely grateful to both Lancaster and York counties for their financial support of this important project. We are also grateful for the high value attributed to conservation by our communities, who understand how directly the protection of natural lands and resources impacts our quality of life.” “This partnership is a historic opportunity to conserve and celebrate our region’s most spectacular natural lands and recreation areas and bring new economic benefits to our communities through heritage and outdoor tourism,” said Mark Platts, president of the Lancaster-York Heritage Region. “These lands and facilities are key attractions along the 400-mile-long Susquehanna River Water Trail, and their permanent preservation helps build the Susquehanna Greenway as a special place for the public to use and enjoy and to treasure always.” “Protecting these unique lands ensures that current and future generations will be able to enjoy the rich history, world-class waterway and many recreational opportunities of the Susquehanna River,” said Larry Selzer, president and chief executive officer of The Conservation Fund. “We applaud PPL for its vision and leadership and are proud to have been a part of this remarkable partnership that continues the region’s legacy of conservation.” The agreement requires the approval of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which regulates PPL’s operation of the Holtwood hydroelectric plant. PPL will enter into a long-term lease-back from the owner to maintain and operate the public recreation facilities on the land, including two campgrounds and other facilities, in cooperation with the partners. The Holtwood plant has been producing clean, reliable hydroelectric energy for nearly a century. Since 2005, PPL has been considering an expansion of the plant, including improvements to the migratory fish passage facility and construction of a new 125-megawatt hydroelectric generating plant adjacent to the existing plant along the Lancaster County shore. A final decision on whether to pursue this expansion is expected soon.
NEWS ¨ NEWS ¨ NEWS ¨ NEWSOffice of the Governor Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Governor’s Press Office ¨ Room 308, Main Capitol Building ¨ Harrisburg, PA 17120 www.governor.state.pa.us ¨ 717-783-1116 (Phone) ¨ 717-772-8462 (Fax)
EDWARD G. RENDELL, Governor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 12, 2007 CONTACT: Barry Ciccocioppo 717-783-1116 Christina Novak (DCNR) 717-772-9101
Governor Rendell Awards $2 Million to Protect Lands Along Lower Susquehanna River
MARTIC TOWNSHIP, Lancaster County — Governor Edward G. Rendell today said the state will invest $2 million to help protect about 3,5000 acres of open space in Lancaster and York counties for outdoor recreation, wildlife habitat and heritage development.
The money will help the Lancaster County Conservancy purchase the lands along the Lower Susquehanna River from PPL Corp. The company intends to donate the money to the new owners as part of a sustainable endowment fund that will be used to manage and improve public access to the lands.
“The Susquehanna is Pennsylvania’s signature river with incredible scenic views, pristine areas, a historic legacy around lumbering and shad, and it is a tremendous recreational resource that attracts small mouth bass fishermen from around the world,” Governor Rendell said. “This investment by the Commonwealth helps efforts to protect the natural, cultural and human resource assets in the corridor and link them to economic growth in the region.
“We thank PPL for its commitment to ensuring not only that these company lands are permanently protected, but also that resources are in place to enhance them for public enjoyment,” Governor Rendell said.
The Community Conservation Partnerships Program grants administered through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be used to leverage local dollars to acquire the lands along the river, which include several access points to the water, wetlands, 15 islands and three overlooks with fantastic views of the river.
Funding for the grant comes from the Keystone Fund, a DCNR account generated from a portion of the realty transfer tax. This grant is the first phase of funds that DCNR is committing to the land transfer.
“The PPL lands are an important part of a large greenway that stretches all along the Susquehanna River,” DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis said during an event at the Pinnacle Overlook in Lancaster County today. “We know that the natural, cultural and recreational attributes of a community contribute significantly to sustainability and residents’ quality of life. These lands are an exceptional open space asset to the surrounding community and the region.
“There are many partners on this project and we are happy to be able to help them meet the vision that they have for their communities,” DiBerardinis said.
For more information about DCNR’s grant program, visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us and click on “Recreation and Conservation.”
###
The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: www.governor.state.pa.us.
Nature-lovers rejoice! Sweeping new land deal will keep our treasured Susquehanna River Gorge… FOREVER GREEN By JACK BRUBAKER, Staff Published: Dec 12, 2007 12:26 PM EST
LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - The Pinnacle Overlook. Shenk's Ferry Wildflower Preserve. Otter Creek Campground. Holtwood Arboretum. These are among the well-known Lancaster and York county natural features included in one of the largest land transfers in this region's history.
PPL Corp. plans to give 3,500 acres it now owns on both the Lancaster and York county sides of the Susquehanna River to the Lancaster County Conservancy. The land will more than double the Conservancy's holdings, which for the first time will extend outside Lancaster County. Representatives of half a dozen public and private agencies planned to gather at the Pinnacle Overlook on the Susquehanna this afternoon to announce the initiative.
The deal will ensure that private utility land will be conserved forever by the nonprofit Lancaster County Conservancy. "These lands connect with land that has already been preserved," said Ralph Goodno, the Conservancy's president and CEO. He added, "To us this is just a beginning to protecting the (Susquehanna) corridor."
Conservancy officials say the properties are assessed at $20 million. PPL will sell the land — which stretches from north of Safe Harbor Dam to south of Holtwood Dam and includes river islands — to the Conservancy for $5 million. The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources plans to pay $4 million of the $5 million. The other $1 million is expected to be provided in equal shares by the commissioners of York and Lancaster counties. Then the utility will donate this $5 million to the Conservancy, which will establish an endowment fund to maintain the land for public use in perpetuity. Under the agreement, PPL will continue to manage all the formal recreation areas — campgrounds, boat launches and picnic areas — and the Conservancy will manage the natural areas.
Barry Spangler, the Conservancy's director of development, said he could not find an example of "any similar deal where a corporation was given money for lands and then gave that money back." "As a corporation, PPL has a strong commitment to the environment and to the communities where we do business," said William H. Spence, PPL's executive vice president and CEO. "We're pleased to play a key role in making sure this beautiful land will be preserved."
|
|
   | ||
