O&R: $52.6m Project Improves Electric Reliability, Resiliency For Customers
Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R) yesterday proposed a new, $52.6-million, two-year electric system construction project designed to improve electric service reliability and system resiliency for approximately 45,000 O&R customers by installing 5.5 miles of new electric transmission cable underground in the southwest section of Clarkstown.
The announcement came yesterday when O&R filed for regulatory review of the proposed project by the New York State Public Service Commission (NYSPSC).
Under NYSPSC rules, an extensive public review process --- under Article VII of the New York State Public Service Law --- will be scheduled to examine the project application. This process typically takes from 12 to 18 months to complete.
The NYSPSC makes the final decision regarding all Article VII applications after careful review and with public input. For a complete description of the application review process, please refer to the Commission’s Article VII Review Process Guide.
The Project
If O&R’s project is certified by the NYSPSC, the new 138kV underground transmission line would be installed mainly within secondary public roadways to connect O&R’s substation in Nanuet with O&R’s substation in West Nyack.
The new transmission line would provide an additional source of electricity for southern Rockland County, where increasing business development is creating additional electric system demand. In addition, the new transmission line’s connection to a new transformer bank in West Nyack will improve electric service reliability, resiliency and capacity for a large number of Clarkstown and Orangetown customers.
O&R President and CEO Robert Sanchez said, “This project will provide added protection and an added electric supply source for a key part of the O&R transmission system. That means we are making the electric system more resilient and the electric service to customers more reliable.”
The Route
The proposed route goes from west to east from O&R’s substation access road in Nanuet, winding through mainly area secondary streets into the substation property in West Nyack.
This route will not require property easements over private lands other than from CSX railway. The project will be installed in the roadways within the public transportation rights-of-way, which would be a cost benefit to the proposed project.
No construction will occur within wetlands or forested lands. As a result, impacts to wetlands, wildlife, existing land use and cultural resources are not anticipated. Only temporary and minor impacts during construction are anticipated for streams and wildlife.
O&R 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, motorists traveling on the roadways along the project’s route should expect periodic delays once the project begins.
About Orange & Rockland
Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R), a wholly owned subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc., one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies, is a regulated utility. O&R provides electric service to approximately 300,000 customers in southeastern New York State (where its franchise name is Orange & Rockland) and northern New Jersey (where it’s Rockland Electric Company) and natural gas service to approximately 130,000 customers in New York.