Albany, NY – The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) announced that it is seeking comment on a proposal by West Point Partners, LLC to construct an approximately 80 mile 1,000 megawatt (MW) transmission line from a National Grid substation in the Town of Athens, Greene County to a Consolidated Edison substation in the Village of Buchanan, Town of Cortlandt, Westchester County. The majority of the transmission line will be buried in the Hudson River and within existing public rights-of-way. The Commission may approve, modify, or reject West Point Partners’ proposal in whole or in part.

The proposed project would comprise the following principal components:

• Approximately 77.3 miles of in-river 320 kilovolt (kV) high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission cable, with associated communications fiber, buried in the bed of the Hudson River;
• Two underground transition vaults, one at each end of the in-river cable route, where the in-river cable would be connected to the land transmission cables;
• Approximately 3.6 miles of 320 kV HVDC land transmission cable linking in-river cable to the northern and southern converter stations;
• Two HVDC converter stations, one at each end of the in-river cable, linking the cable to the 345 kV alternating current (AC) grid; and
• Approximately 1.6 miles of 345 kV AC land cable connecting the HVDC converter stations to the Leeds and Buchanan North substations.

Public Statement Hearings

The public will have an opportunity to present their comments at the hearings before an Administrative Law Judge assigned by the Commission to hear this case.  A verbatim transcript of the hearings will be made for inclusion in the record of the proceeding.

At each informational forum prior to the public statement hearings, Department of Public Service staff will provide a brief overview of the Public Service Law certification process and, how the public can provide input.  Then, the Applicant will provide a brief summary of the proposed project followed by a question and answer period. 

The informational forums and public statement hearings will be held as follows:

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014

 Athens Volunteer Firehouse

39 Third Street, Athens, NY 12015

Informational Forum: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Public Statement Hearing: 3:00 p.m.

and

Edward J. Arthur Elementary School Auditorium

51 Third Street, Athens, NY  12015

Informational Forum: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Public Statement Hearing: 7:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

 Muriel H. Morabito Community Center

29 Westbrook Drive, Cortland Manor, NY  10657

Informational Forum: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Public Statement Hearing: 3:30 p.m.

and

Informational Forum: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Public Statement Hearing: 7:00 p.m.

The public statement hearings will remain open until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other arrangements are made. 

It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or to present written material in order to speak at the public statement hearings.  Speakers will be called after completing a card requesting time to speak.  Disabled persons requiring special accommodations may place a collect call to 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 to reach the Department of Public Service’s Human Resource Office at the previously mentioned number. 

Other Ways to Comment

Internet or Mail:  In addition to the formal hearings, comments may be sent electronically to the Secretary, at secretary@dps.ny.gov, or mailed or delivered to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.  Your comments should refer to “Case 13-T-0292 – West Point Partners Transmission Line Proposal.”

Toll-free Opinion Line:  Comments may also be submitted through the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120.  This number is designed to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24 hours a day.  Callers should press “1” to leave comments.

Comments will be accepted throughout the pendency of this proceeding.  Comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission.  Written comments may be accessed on the Commission’s website by searching Case 13-T-0292 (at www.dps.ny.gov, enter Case Number 13-T-0292 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number") and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.  Many libraries offer free Internet access. 

The Commission’s decision in this case, when issued, may be obtained on the Commission’s website by searching for Case 13-T-0292 as described above.  Commission orders 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.