Major Underground Transmission Line Approved in Rockland; Project To Improv Reliability and Resiliency for O&R Customers

The New York State Public Service Commission (NYSPSC) has approved (February 15) Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R) plans for a new, $57.8-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 Project

The new 138kV underground transmission line is to 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 will 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 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.”

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.