By Senior Correspondent Desirée Taylor
NJ Today
Jersey Central Power and Light has a new tool to help trim trees. It’s an aerial saw consisting of multiple 24-inch rotary blades. The saw hangs from an extension line which is attached to the helicopter. As the helicopter flies slowly along the right of way, officials say the saw cuts rapidly and cleanly. Tree trims fall straight down, assisted by the air blasts from the rotors of the helicopter.
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JCP&L first started using the aerial saws to help clean up after Superstorm Sandy. They have been so effective the aerial saws are now part of the utility company’s comprehensive vegetation management program. “Using the helicopter saw is much more efficient and effective,” said Ron Morano, spokesperson for JCP&L. “Transmission lines are the backbone of our system .. so a tree touching a line can can take tens of thousands of customers out of service .. and we don’t want that to happen.”
Among the benefits, says Morano, the aerial saw can trim vegetation on both sides of a 10 to 12 mile right of way in one week. And this tool can be used in remote areas that are inaccessible to vehicles. He also claims this technique costs significantly less than traditional tree trimming methods.
But Kate Millsaps, of the New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club has concerns. “It essentially results in clear cutting. The cuttings are done indiscriminately. There’s no one on the ground to ensure there’s no critical species in the area or what resources are being impacted by the cuts,” said Millsaps.
But JCP&L spokesperson Ron Morano claims this technique is not clear cutting. And he points out the utility company is required by law to maintain and clear the right of way. “We have an environmental scientist … who works with the environmental permitting to make sure we have the necessary permits before we do any of the trimming,”said Morano.