chester koirnths the home of valley forge in the brandywine county where i come from is one of williampenn's original three counties. the tradition of preserving land and being good stewards of the earth have been passed down from generation to generation. we're not against progress, but we want to protect our heritage and be wise about how we use and develop the land we have. having the needed energy to turn on lights and heat water is critically important to the quality of life of every american. however, the preservation of natural environment of people's communities contributes to our quality of life as well. we need to ensure that all stakeholders are included in deciding where and when transmission lines are cited. compromise and dialogue are key in this issue, indeed it is critical to strike a balance between the crucial needs of the country while at the same time maintaining historic open space areas that make our country beautiful and unique. as the country considers this issue i hope that we hear from an affected parties and work towards viable solutions. mr. chairman, i'm gr