Big Ugly Utility Poles - Setting the Record Straight

Two weeks ago, at a Township Committee meeting, Holmdel Mayor Rocco Impreveduto unexpectedly claimed that the grassroots organization Residents Against Giant Electric ("RAGE") approved the big ugly utility poles now being installed throughout Holmdel.

As "proof," the Mayor cited a Facebook post by RAGE Co-President Rachael Kanapka. In reality, the post simply summarized a day of court proceedings and outlined RAGE's proposed alternative—an option that would have cost ratepayers roughly 30% of JCP&L's intrusive 2016 high-power transmission project.

After receiving no response to her email, Kanapka attended last night's Township Committee meeting and spoke during public comments to once again set the record straight. Her remarks can be viewed below.

The following questions remain unanswered by Mayor Impreveduto and the Township Committee:

1. When and where were residents informed that these oversized poles would be installed before construction began?

2. Why did the Township recently issue a press release claiming it stands with residents opposing these poles when a JCP&L spokesperson told News12 that the company has been working on the project since 2023 and has coordinated with the Township every step of the way?

3. When was the original 2019 project changed from adding wires to existing wooden poles to installing new, significantly larger laminate and metal poles?

4. Was JCP&L required to notify all property owners within 200 feet by certified mail, as it did with the train tracks proposal? If so, did it comply?

5. If the project is fully above-board, as JCP&L claims, why is the company now offering settlement payments to residents?

6. Why is Mayor Impreveduto presenting a false choice between the giant high-power transmission line opposed by RAGE—which affected five towns and thousands of residents—and the poles now being installed in Holmdel?

7. How could a volunteer grassroots organization such as RAGE have the authority to approve a JCP&L project that the Township itself supposedly lacked?

Holmdel residents deserve facts, transparency, and accountability—not attempts to rewrite history or spread misinformation to deflect responsibility.

Public comment by Rachel Kanapka:

“My name is Rachael Kanapka and I am a resident of Middletown. I was co-President of RAGE, Residents Against Giant Electric, for the 2+ years of the grassroots community fight against JCPL's 2016-2018 attempt to install high-voltage power lines over the NJT tracks for 10+ miles through 5 towns, including Holmdel.

I am here tonight to respond to the comment made by Mayor Impreveduto on the record at the 6/9/26 meeting, saying that I and RAGE leadership somehow gave permission or approval for the current large monopoles being installed in Holmdel now in 2026.

That comment is absolutely incorrect and I am here to set the record straight. 

I was shocked to hear my name said aloud on the livestream of that meeting. The next morning, I sent an email to Mayor Impreveduto to introduce myself and to defend myself and RAGE with a thorough telling of facts. It would take me much longer than 3 minutes to read that email, but if anybody here wants to read it, we posted it to the RAGE 2016 Facebook page. At the end of that email, I asked that he respond and publicly correct the comment he made.

The next day, June 11, I sent the email to the entire Township Committee. 

As of today, I have gotten one email in reply, from Greg Buontempo. 

So, the Township Committee already knows everything I have to say. I am here tonight to directly address the people of Holmdel and -- I can't believe I'm saying this -- to clear my and RAGE's name.

I did not approve or "negotiate" ANYTHING with JCP&L. The other RAGE leaders did not approve or negotiate ANYTHING. We NEVER would have done that. Anybody who was involved and paying attention during those 2 years -- and I am sure there are a lot of you -- can attest to how hard I and RAGE worked to keep those giant, dangerous poles out of our communities. We raised $500,000 to join the legal proceedings as a grassroots community group. We hired a lawyer and expert witnesses who formed the crux of the case and led to the judge and BPU siding with us and DENYING that project. I and the other RAGE leaders spent thousands of hours over 2 years to fight this to protect all our towns from giant poles and high-voltage transmission lines, and we WON. The last time I was in this room, it was with the other RAGE leaders to receive a commendation from the Holmdel Township Committee for our efforts.

To be here now in the same room, to respond to a public accusation by Holmdel Township -- that I and RAGE somehow sold Holmdel out and are the ones responsible for the installation of giant poles just like the ones we spent years fighting -- absolutely blows my mind. It is completely false and it is extremely insulting.

I don't know who told Mayor Impreveduto that I or RAGE was responsible for this. I can only assume it was JCP&L. But that misinformation being spread, and a grassroots community group being blamed, on the record, by an elected official, in an official public forum, without proper validation, is WRONG and reckless. 

Holmdel residents: JCP&L is trying to gaslight you and your township committee. Don't let them. Ask them when the original 2019 project to add new wires to EXISTING wooden poles changed to installing NEW, much bigger, laminate and metal poles. Ask if JCP&L was supposed to notify all residents within 200 feet via certified letter, like they had to do with the train tracks proposal. Ask why they are now offering settlement money to residents if this project is fully above-board as they claim.

JCP&L is the one to blame. NOT RAGE. I want that on the record.”

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