Fairfield officials met with residents Tuesday evening at Roger Ludlowe Middle School to address United Illuminating's plan to install high-voltage transmission lines up to 145 feet high north of the railroad tracks and the Post Road.

The town recently filed an appeal in Superior Court against the Connecticut Siting Council's approval of UI's proposal.

"I have never been defending a municipality where the proposal is to take 19 acres of permanent easements over private and municipal property," said David Ball, attorney for Fairfield.

Fairfield wants UI to bury the transmission lines instead of draping them along tall monopoles above ground, but UI claims such a move would cost more than $1 billion.