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I need to respond to the July 2 cartoon alluding to the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) project, in which a fellow is complaining about news of possible expansion of the electric grid and how his quality of life will be affected. Then his television goes dark due to the electricity going out.

This is Pepco/Allegheny Energy's mantra — that we need the PATH line expansion and a huge substation in Mount Airy, the "Kemptown Substation."

This, however, is not fact; rather, a public relations campaign to scare people into believing that the lights will go out if we do not let them have their way with this project.

What the informed among us know is that U.S. Department of Energy studies show that projected energy need is less than what Allegheny claims.

Could this be because they have been guaranteed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission a 14.3 percent profit on every dollar spent for the overhead transmission lines, plus recovery for all costs?

In this current economy that is quite a deal.

All ratepayers, however, will need to pay more to cover the costs for this project so that Allegheny will receive its guaranteed profit. That's no deal for us.

Also distressing about PATH is that Maryland is projected to only receive 14 percent of the electricity created, and Frederick County specifically will receive nothing.

Nothing but more towers, more power lines, and a 50-acre substation in the midst of our homes.

Allegheny has been secretive about details of this monstrous substation. Why? My property backs to the farmland purchased as the proposed site, but I have yet to receive any official notification.

In fact, owners of larger properties along the proposed route whose land would be directly affected by towers and power lines have not even been informed by the company.

Why is this? Why is a 765kV substation, of a magnitude they have never built, being put in an area of existing subdivisions?

These and many more questions need answers.

It is a shame that the people of Frederick County are being treated like Lenin's "useful idiots." Our community has too much at stake to blindly accept what we are told.

It is not just an issue of our view or NIMBY-ism. It is the lack of need, radiation effects, private property rights, decline in property values, well water contamination, destruction of wildlife habitat and trees, fire risk and security concerns to name a few.

We cannot bury our head in the sand when we know PATH is only designed to benefit a bottom line, but definitely not you and I.

Susan Denny, Mount Airy

The writer is a member of Citizens Against the Kemptown Electric Substation.