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For Immediate Release: 2/6/2019
John B. Rhodes, Chair
Contact: John Chirlin | John.Chirlin@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080
19008/18-T-0499
February 06, 2019
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NextEra Energy Project Public Statement Hearings ScheduledProject Entails 20-Mile, 345 Kilovolt Transmission Line in Niagara, Erie Counties |
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ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today announced it will hold public statement hearings on February 13, 2019, in the Town of Alden, to receive comments on NextEra Energy Transmission New York, Inc.’s (NEETNY) proposal to construct a new transmission line and associated switchyards.
NEETNY filed a petition with the Commission seeking approval to construct and operate the Empire State Line Project (ESL Project). The ESL Project would include an approximately 20-mile, 345 kilovolt (kV) transmission line and associated switchyards in the Town of Royalton in Niagara County, and the Towns of Alden, Elma, Lancaster, and Newstead in Erie County. The 20-mile long transmission line would be built in an existing utility corridor, owned by New York State Electric and Gas Corporation, and would connect the proposed switchyards to each other. Two sets of transmission lines, about 0.5 and 0.4 miles long, respectively, also would be constructed to connect the new switchyards to existing transmission lines.
Opportunities for public information and comment regarding NEETNY’s request will be provided as follows:
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Alden Town Hall Auditorium
3311 Wende Road
Alden, NY 14004
Afternoon Information Forum: 2:30 pm
Afternoon Public Statement Hearing: 3:00 pm
Evening Information Forum: 6:30 pm
Evening Public Statement Hearing: 7:00 pm
Each hearing will be immediately preceded by an information session, during which staff of the Department of Public Service will provide an overview of the review process under the Public Service Law and NEETNY representatives will be available to answer questions about the proposed project. The public is welcome to stop in at any time during the information forums to review information and ask questions.
At the public statement hearings, those wishing to comment on the proposal will have an opportunity to make a statement on the record. It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or to present written material in order to speak at the hearing. Persons will be called to speak after completing a request card. Each 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 for inclusion in the record of this proceeding.
Persons with disabilities 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 encouraged to call the Department at (800) 342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.
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 18-T-0499 – ESL Project, Article VII.”
Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “Search,” enter the case number (18-T-0499), and then click on “Post Comments” at the top of the page; or send 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 will be accepted throughout the pendency of this proceeding, but they are requested by February 19, 2019. Comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission. Written comments may be viewed at www.dps.ny.gov (search using the case number (18-T-0499) and click on the “Public Comments” tab). Many libraries offer free Internet access.
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