The New York Power Authority (NYPA) filed a request with the New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) seeking approval to construct capacitor banks on approximately two acres of land owned by the New York State Electric & Gas Corporation at the Fraser substation in the Town of Delhi, Delaware County.  The proposed facilities would be constructed on the site adjacent to and south of existing NYPA electric transmission lines.

Informational Forum and Public Statement Hearing

During an Informational Forum, Staff from the Department of Public Service will provide an overview of the Public Service Law certification process and the Applicant will provide a summary of the proposed project.  The Applicant will have plans available for viewing regarding the proposed work at the Fraser substation.  These presentations will be followed by an opportunity for members of the public to pose questions about NYPA’s proposal.

An Administrative Law Judge will conduct the Public Statement Hearing.  In order to speak at the hearing, it is not necessary to be present at the start of the hearing, to make an appointment in advance, or to present written material.  Persons will be called to speak after completing a request card.  A time limit may be set to allow the greatest number of speakers to be heard.  The public statement hearing will continue until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made.  A verbatim transcript of the hearing will be made for inclusion in the record of these proceedings.

Disabled persons requiring special accommodations may place a collect call to the DPS’s Human Resources Management Office at 518-474-2520.  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 Resources Office at the previously mentioned number.  If you have difficulty understanding English, please call the Department at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services.

Description of the Proposed Facility

In 1985, the Commission approved the Marcy South Transmission Facilities project which authorized the construction of approximately 180 miles of 345kv transmission line between the Town of Marcy, Oneida County and the Town of East Fishkill, Dutchess County.  The Marcy South project included:  construction of two transmission circuits (Marcy to Coopers Corner and Edic to Fraser); the expansion of the Marcy, Edic, Fraser, Coopers Corners, Roseton and Rock Tavern substations and the construction of the East Fishkill substation.

NYPA has filed an amendment to the original project and seeks authorization for the addition of two capacitor banks on NYSEG owned property at the Fraser substation in the Town of Delhi, Delaware County.  The installation includes: one 915 MVAR SC bank (Marcy SC Bank) and one 315 MVAR SC bank (Fraser SC Bank) adjacent to the existing NYPA maintained transmission corridor.  Both SC banks will be connected to the existing Marcy-Coopers Corners and Edic-Fraser circuits.  NYPA has requested the amendments to the original project to reduce impedance and improve power flow across the circuits.

This amended project is referred to as the Marcy South Series Compensation (MSSC) project.  Total project footprint and area of disturbance for both SC banks is approximately 2.0 acres.  Proposed project facilities within this footprint will include:

• Two series capacitors banks and right-of-ways (as described above)
• A single control building, relay and protection control equipment
• Additional transmission towers at similar heights within the existing maintained rights-of-way

New York State Certification Review Process for Major Electric Transmission Lines

Article VII of the NYS Public Service Law establishes the review process for consideration of any application to construct and operate an electric transmission line with a design capacity of 100 kilovolts or more, extending for at least ten miles.  The Commission received this application for an Amendment to a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need from NYPA, in January 2014 and it was supplemented in April and June 2014.  In June, the two proposed series capacitors were combined into a single project to be located at the Fraser substation.  The Commission must decide whether to grant or deny the application for the Certificate Amendment, and must make findings regarding:

• The basis of need for the MSSC Project;
• The nature of probable environmental impacts of the Project, and whether impacts will be minimized;
• What part, if any, of the project shall be constructed underground and whether the project conforms with plans for electric grid expansion;
• Whether the Project conforms with local laws and regulations, or the need for waiver of those laws and regulations; and
• Whether the Project serves the public interest, convenience and necessity.

 How to Obtain Information

The application documents and other materials pertaining to this case, including a description of the probable environmental impact of the proposed Facility, can be obtained from the Commission’s website, www.dps.ny.gov, by clicking on “Search,” and entering “13-T-0515” in the “Search by Case Number” field.  This case includes multiple projects and this proceeding is specific to the work at Fraser Substation and is identified as either Marcy South Series Compensation or MSSC.

Ways to Participate in the Article VII Process

Article VII provides opportunities for individual and group stakeholders to take part in the formal review of the application.  The proposed location, appearance, cost and construction and maintenance practices, as well as the need for the facility are all subject to review.  Article VII proceedings are open to participation from New York State agencies, municipalities and local environmental, commercial, planning and community/public interest groups and individuals that have an interest in the project.

There are several ways to participate in the Article VII process, including:

• Request Party Status: Becoming a party to a case enables an individual or group to contribute to the development of a complete record by conducting discovery, submitting testimony, briefs, or other formal written comments, and participating in evidentiary hearings, procedural conferences and other formal events conducted in the case.
  
  Interested groups or individuals can submit a request for party status on-line through the Commission’s www.dps.ny.gov web site by searching for Case 13-T-0515 and clicking the “Request for Party Status” link at the top of the Case page.  Alternatively, a “Request for Party Status Form” can be downloaded (http://tinyurl.com/PSCParticipateForms) from the website or obtained by calling or writing Administrative Law Judge, NYS Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223-1350, 518-474-4520.  The requestor will be provisionally added to the party list, subject to the right of other parties to object and subject to the determination of the Administrative Law Judge.
  
• Join the Service List: Interested persons who wish to monitor the proceedings of a particular case can do so without the formal commitment to become a party to the proceeding.  The persons who subscribe to the service list of a case will receive an e-mail with a direct link to the documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulings.  Persons unable or unwilling to receive such electronic notification will receive hard copies of Commission-issued documents by regular mail.
  
  To register on-line, click on the “Subscribe to Service List” link at the top of the page for Case 13-T-0515.  A “Service List and Mail Service List Request Form” can be downloaded at http://tinyurl.com/PSCParticipateForms and the completed form sent by e-mail to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary at [email protected] or by mail to: Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223-1350.
  
• Monitor the Case on the Commission Website: Interested persons who choose not to sign up to receive e-mail notifications can view our website at their convenience to check on the status of a case.  All documents filed by parties, correspondence, hearing transcripts, and documents issued by the Commission in a given case are posted on the website for that case.  In addition, all comments submitted by the public are posted under the ‘public comments’ tab for the case.
  
• Provide Comments:  There are opportunities to attend public outreach events to learn about the project and provide comments.   Currently, the Commission is seeking public comment on the application for the MSSC project as described above.  The public statement hearing identified in this fact sheet is being held to provide the public with the opportunity to comment on the Project.  In addition to attending the hearing, comments can be provided to the Commission using the following methods:

 Other Methods for Commenting on the Case

• Via the Internet or In Writing:  Public comments may be submitted electronically to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, at [email protected], or by mail or delivery to, Secretary Burgess at the Department of Public Service, Three Empire State Plaza, and Albany, New York 12223-1350.  Comments may also be entered directly at the Commission’s webpage.  In the open case, enter comments in the “Post Comments” located at the top of the page.  Comments should refer to “Case 13-T-0515 (Marcy South Series Compensation Project ).”  Many libraries offer free internet service.
• Toll-Free Opinion Line:  Individuals may choose to submit comments by calling the Commission’s toll-free Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120.  This line is set up to receive in-state calls 24-hours a day.  These calls are not transcribed but a summary is provided to the administrative law judges who will report to the Commission and will be posted for public viewing on the Commission’s website, at www.dps.ny.gov.  Callers should press “1” and select the choice for “electric” to leave comments about “Case 13-T-0515 (Marcy South Series Compensation Project).”

All comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission.

For a printable fact sheet regarding this case please click here.