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For Immediate Release: 04/10/17
Gregg C. Sayre, Interim Chairman
Contact: James Denn | James.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080
17024
April 10, 2017
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Vermont Green Line Public Statement Hearings Scheduled$100,000 in Intervenor Funding Available for Stakeholders |
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ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today announced it was seeking comment on a request by Vermont Green Line Devco, LLC, to construct and operate the New York State portion of a proposed electric transmission facility. Intervenor funding of $100,000 is available to be used to defray specified expenses incurred by municipalities and relevant stakeholders to participate in the proceeding. The proposed facility is a high-voltage direct current 400 megawatt (MW) electric power transmission system connecting the New York Power Authority’s Plattsburgh substation in Beekmantown, New York, to the Vermont Electric Power Company’s New Haven substation in New Haven, Vermont. If the request is granted, the company would be authorized to construct and operate a converter station in Beekmantown; an underground 230 kilovolt (kV) alternating current (AC) electric transmission line, approximately 0.7 mile long, connecting existing NYPA transmission lines to the proposed new converter station; an upland, underground ±150 kV direct current (DC) electric transmission line, approximately 6.7 miles long, that will extend between the new converter station in Beekmantown to the shoreline of Lake Champlain at Point Au Roche State Park; and the New York State portion of a150 kV DC electric transmission line, approximately 4.9 miles long, located underwater in Lake Champlain. With the exception of the Beekmantown converter station, the New York portion of the proposed facility will be located entirely underwater or underground.
An initial prehearing conference will be held before Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Michelle L. Phillips on Thursday, April 27, 2017, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Beekmantown Town Hall, located at 571 Spellman Road, Beekmantown, New York. The principal purposes of the conference are to identify the parties participating in the proceeding, consider and discuss requests for intervenor funding, discuss the parties’ scheduling proposals for the balance of the proceeding, and address any other matters appropriately raised at the conference.
An intervenor fund has been established and is available to be used to defray specified expenses that will be incurred by municipal and other parties as they participate as intervenors in this proceeding. The purpose of the funds is to allow such parties to contribute to the development of a complete record leading to an informed decision in this case and foster broad public participation. Applicants for intervenor funding must be parties to this case. To request party status, go to www.dps.ny.gov, search using the case number, click on the “Request for Party Status” button in the upper right hand corner of the screen, and follow the instructions to request party status. Initial requests for funds must be filed with the Secretary and submitted to ALJ Phillips at Michelle.Phillips@dps.ny.gov, with copies to other parties to this case, no later than April 14, 2017, using the form provided online (go to www.dps.ny.gov/articlevii.htm and click on “Request for Intervenor Funds”). Please note that requests must fully comply with the Commission’s rules.
The opportunities for public information and comment regarding the company’s proposal will be provided as follows:
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Beekmantown Town Hall 571 Spellman Road, Beekmantown, NY 2:30 PM and 6:00 PM – Information Forums
3:00 PM and 6:30 PM – Public Statement Hearings Each information forum will be followed by a public statement hearing where all those wishing to comment on the company’s proposal will have an opportunity to make a statement on the record before an Administrative Law Judge. It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or to present written material to speak at the hearing. The public statement hearing will be held open until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made to include their comments in the record. A verbatim transcript of the hearing will be made.
Disabled persons requiring special accommodations should call the Department of Public Service’s Human Resources Management Office at (518) 474-2520 as soon as possible. TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711. Individuals with difficulty understanding or reading English are encourages to call the Commission at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this notice.
Other Ways to Comment
For those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at a public statement hearing, there are several other ways to comment about this case to the Commission. Comments should refer to “Case 16-T-0260 — Vermont Green Line — Article VII.”
Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “Search,” enter the case number (16-T-0260), and then click on “Post Comments” at the top of the page; or e-mail comments to the Secretary to the Commission at secretary@dps.ny.gov. Alternatively, comments may be mailed or delivered to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.
Toll-Free Opinion Line: You may call the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to take comments about pending cases from in-State callers, 24 hours a day. These comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission. Comments submitted via these alternate means are requested by May 11, 2017. Comments will become part of the record and be reported to the Commission for its consideration. Written comments may be access at www.dps.ny.gov (search using the case number (16-T-0260) and click on the “Public Comments” tab). Many libraries offer free Internet access. The application may be viewed at www.dps.ny.gov (search using case number 16-T-0260) or at public libraries in West Chazy, Plattsburg, Champlain, Keeseville, and Chateaugay.
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