YOUNGSTOWN - Congressman Tim Ryan has joined the growing chorus of those opposing FirstEnergy’s plans to string high-tension power lines behind Youngstown’s amphitheater, the Covelli Centre, and a public park.

Ryan, who is also seeking the Democratic nomination to run for U.S. Senate, says he has written a letter urging the Ohio Power Siting Board to oppose plans for a six-mile-long, 138-volt high-tension power line along the Mahoning River.

"Simply put, marring this beautiful and useful land with an unsightly and disruptive high-power transmission line would do irreparable harm to the City of Youngstown's immediate and long-term economic development plans. I ask the Board to instead instruct the company to renew talks with the City of Youngstown and other stakeholders to find an alternative plan,” Ryan stated in his letter.

FirstEnergy says the project would upgrade electrical facilities to reinforce the power grid and prevent or reduce the length of power outages.

A community group has already been formed to oppose the current plan to string 5 miles of 138-kilovolt power lines to the Riverbend substation.

Ryan’s letter comes the same week that Youngstown Law Director Jeff Limbian asked the Power Siting Board to allow the city to intervene in the decision-making process.