In a move that it says will help reduce the possibilities of a major power outages, the New York State Public Service Commission has approved the construction of a $57.8 million power line on Rockland County. The proposed line, which would be placed underground along public roadway rights-of-way, was jointly proposed by Orange & Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R), 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 plan for the five-and-one-half mile line, which would carry 138,000 volts of electricity, has been in the works for a couple of years.
“This new transmission project is good news for the region and its customers,” said Public Service Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. “It will help improve reliability and reduce the chances of power outages due to an over-stressed electric grid.”
O&R President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Sanchez said, “This project will enhance the resiliency of our system and add a clean electric supply source for a key part of the O&R transmission system.”
Concern had been expressed that the existing overhead transmission line between Orange & Rockland’s Burns Substation and the West Nyack Substation in the Town of Clarkstown could be overloaded in event of a failure affecting another transmission line in the area. According to the joint proposal, the new power line is needed to relieve potential overloading and provide enough capacity to serve the power demands of proposed data centers to be built in the Orangetown area of Rockland.
The PSC said that the new power line will fall primarily within paved roadways, which are bordered largely by commercial and residential properties. It said that impacts to land use associated with construction of the project will be minor and include vegetation trimming, clearing, installation, and restoration. Temporary impacts during construction will also include roadway lane and shoulder closures along the route, noise, and visual impacts of construction activities to surrounding residences and open spaces. The PSC said that all adjacent landowners will be notified of construction activities prior to any work being conducted.
At one point a 150-foot section of the power line would need to cross CSX railroad tracks and would be placed underneath the tracks. The plan is for the power line to be eight feet beneath the tracks. Existing viaducts will carry the new power line at the points it crosses underneath the Palisades Interstate Parkway and The New York State Thruway.
O&R said it is working closely with Clarkstown town government and its police department on this project and plans a collaborative effort to minimize construction disruption along the community’s roadways. However, O&R added that motorists traveling on the roadways along the project’s route should expect periodic delays once the project begins.
