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For Immediate Release: 02/15/2024 Rory M. Christian, Chair Contact:
James Denn | James.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080 24015/21-T-0569 February 15, 2024
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PSC Approves Major Underground Transmission Line in Rockland County |
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$57.8 Million Power Line Will Help Prevent Potential Future Overloads and Help Spur Continued Economic Growth in County ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today adopted the terms of the joint proposal signed by Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., trial staff of the New York State Department of Public Service, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Department of Transportation, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, the County of Rockland and the Town of Clarkstown. The $57.8 million project is a new 138 kilovolt (kV) underground transmission line, primarily within the public roadway rights-of-way (ROW), for a total distance of approximately five-and-one-half miles between the Burns substation and the West Nyack Substation in the Town of Clarkstown, Rockland County.
“This new transmission project is good news for the region and its customers,” said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. “It will help improve reliability and reduce the chances of power outages due to an over-stressed electric grid.”
According to the joint proposal, the new power line is needed to relieve potential overloading of O&R’s existing 138 kV overhead Line 702 between its Burns and Oak Street substations. Recent summer studies indicate that the power flow on the existing line will exceed its capacity if an outage occurs on another 138 kV line serving the region. Additional anticipated loads from proposed data centers in the Orangetown area will increase the potential for overloading under the same contingency.
Should such overloads occur, load transfers to adjacent substations will be needed and, if the overloading persists, load shedding will occur to prevent damage to the existing conductors. Once completed, the project will immediately alleviate loads on the existing line, improving the regional transmission network’s overall resiliency and power source reliability to southern Rockland County, while utilizing existing ROW without visual impacts.
Two public statement hearings were held on May 25, 2022 at the Rockland County Seat, New City, to receive public comment. No party is challenging the joint proposal or the project. The five public comments received primarily indicated interest in minimizing temporary construction impacts.
Today’s decision may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s Web site at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Number 21-T-0569 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number". Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission documents may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.
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