AskPSC - Case 13-T-0585

Case 13-T-0585

Cricket Valley Energy
Transmission Line
Case 13-T-0585

Cricket Valley Energy Center, LLC filed an application with the New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) seeking authority to:

Construct and operate a new approximately 14.6 mile 345 kV transmission line to connect the Cricket Valley Energy Center generation facility in the Town of Dover, New York to the Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.’s (Con Edison) Pleasant Valley Substation in the Town of Pleasant Valley, New York
Re-conductor approximately a 3.4-mile segment of the existing Con Edison 345 kV line (Line 398) in the Town of Dover between the Cricket Valley Switchyard and the New York-Connecticut state line.

The new transmission facility would run parallel to, and be placed entirely within, the right-of-way of the existing Line 398.

Informational Forum and Public Statement Hearing

During the Informational Forum, Department of Public Service Staff will provide a brief overview of the Public Service Law certification process and the Applicant will provide a brief summary of the proposed project. The Applicant will have maps of the proposed route and alternative routes available for viewing. These presentations will be followed by an opportunity for members of the public to pose questions about the transmission line application.

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.

Informational Forum and Public Statement Hearing
Date:	Monday, August 4, 2014
Time:	Informational Forum is 6:00 PM Public Statement Hearing is 7:00 PM
Location:	Pleasant Valley Town Hall 1554 Main Street Pleasant Valley, NY

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 Resource 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

From the Cricket Valley Energy Center, LLC substation yard a new transmission line will be constructed on the existing electric transmission line corridor on the southern 125 feet of that corridor. A second re-conductoring project of approximate 3.4-mile segment of the existing 345 kV Line 398 to a substation in Connecticut will be completed. Consolidated Edison operates the existing rights-of-way and will continue to manage the corridor.

The proposed Project as presented in this Application also includes improvements to Consolidated Edison’s Pleasant Valley Substation. New protection and communication system upgrades will be required within the existing control buildings at the Pleasant Valley Substation. Cricket Valley Energy Center is a 1000-megawatt (MW) power plant that was reviewed under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (Environmental Conservation Law, Article 8). This proposed transmission line would connect the energy center to the statewide electric transmission system.

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 a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need from Cricket Valley Energy Center LLC December 30, 2013, which was supplemented on April 2, and 18, 2014. On May 21, 2014, the Commission determines that the application complied with Article VII information requirements and that public review would commence. The Commission must decide whether to grant or deny the application, and must make findings regarding:

The basis of need for the facility;
The nature of probable environmental impacts, and whether impacts will be minimized;
What part, if any, of the line 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-0585” in the “Search by Case Number” field.

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-0585 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.
Apply for Intervenor Funding: The purpose of the intervenor fund is to allow parties to contribute to the development of a complete record leading to an informed Commission decision, and to foster broad public participation. The funds are used to help defray the expenses of hiring expert witness and consultants, and administrative and legal fees. An intervenor fund of $50,000.00 has been established for this proceeding. Initial requests for funding were due June 17, 2014. A second round of funding requests may be filed by Friday, August 8, 2014.

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-0585. 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 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 Cricket Valley 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, 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-0585 (Cricket Valley Energy Center 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-0585 (Cricket Valley Energy Center Project).”

All comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission. For a printable version of the fact sheet, you can click here.