Advisory Working Groups

Town of LaGrange

December 15, 2014

Agenda

Introductions Recap

– About Advisory Working Groups (AWG)– Project Overview & Update– AWG Recap

Tonight’s topics– Noise & Safety– Project Benefits (short and long term)– Design Factors

Planning for next AWG

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Tonight’s Speakers

Bob De Meyere – Cricket Valley Energy (CVE)– Project Manager – Cricket Valley Energy Center

Ted Barten – Epsilon Associates, Inc. – Project environmental consultant

Nora Madonick – Arch Street Communications– Public information and outreach

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What is an Advisory Working Group (AWG)?

Informal, unofficial opportunities for the public and project experts to share information and ideas

Not required by the public process – additional outreach by Cricket Valley Energy – comments are not part of the official public record

No specialized knowledge is needed – technical information will be presented in plain language

If you are attending as a member of an organization, please share what you learn tonight with your members

Announced via website, postcards, email blast, calendar listing, posters, advertising, posting on town websites

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AWGs are self-determined.

The group:- Chose the topics for tonight’s meeting- Requested use of microphones as needed- Requested longer question/answer period

All meeting materials will be posted on the web following tonight’s meeting

Please visit cricketvalleytransmission.com for updates and to sign up for email notifications

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Recap: Project Overview

Cricket Valley Energy is a 1000 MW energy generation facility in Dover, NY

- Fully approved and permitted

- Completed State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process

- Restoration of abandoned industrial site

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Recap: New York Independent System Operator Requirement

CVE has been required by NYISO to increase transmission/transfer capacity, redundancy, and operational capacities by:- Funding and installing 14.6-mile transmission line in

existing right-of-way between CVE in Dover and Con Edison substation in Pleasant Valley

- Reconductoring 3.4-mile segment of existing line between CVE substation and the NY/CT border

- Upgrading Pleasant Valley substation (within existing footprint) security/communication infrastructure

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NOT part of any of the following transmission line projects: NY Transco Edic to Pleasant Valley; NEXTERA New Scotland to Pleasant Valley; North American Transmission; or Boundless Energy Transmission

Project Status

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AWG Recap

Visual Impact- The CVE team identified an option to reduce the

proposed pole height by as much as 40 ft by using H-frame poles, replacing monopoles in certain key locations, and modifying the original design of the monopoles

- Design changes have been submitted for approval to Con Edison

Underground Construction− Based on the significant environmental and other

potential impacts, the underground option failed to satisfy the project design requirements set forth by Con Edison and NYISO

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Noise & Safety

Tonight we will cover:

Noise:

- Construction Phase

- Operational Phase

Safety:

- Standards

- Clearances & Aviation

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Noise: Construction Phase

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Short intervals of work along the right-of-way over a total schedule of 24 months. Short-term sound may include:− Standard construction equipment, such as drill rigs, rough

terrain cranes, cable pulling rigs− Helicopters (heavy lift and light duty)− Trucks to deliver materials, bring workers to and from

active construction areas The construction process will not include:

− Use of explosives/blasting− Use of rock breaking/trenching equipment

Restrictions will be in place to limit noise-producing construction activity to standard daylight working hours

Noise: Operational Phase

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Corona effect− Phenomenon associated with all energized electrical

devices, including high-voltage transmission lines− Air close to the conductors may become ionized and

generate some sound energy (humming, crackling)− Most audible during low ambient noise and high

humidity. Least audible (masked) when raining steadily− CVE will use “bundled conductors” to minimize corona

effect

Con Edison line inspection and right-of-way maintenance− Consistent with current practices/policies

Safety: Standards

CVE will address all considerations in order to meet safety standards, including:

- Construction: Foundations, cable weight and tension, wind loads, ice loads, design

- Monopoles: Safety record, resistance to strain, ice/snow loads, and insect/bird damage

- Operational: Grounding, pole type, distance between equipment and conductors, distance between nearby structures and conductors

High-voltage transmission lines have a strong reliability record

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Safety: Clearances and Aviation

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Clearances- Vegetation and trees, if not properly maintained, can be

a source of outages (including the 2003 blackout)- Clearing requirements will be determined by applicable

wire security zone standards

Aviation Safety- Structure heights, locations, and lighting in accordance

with FAA requirements will ensure safe operation of the transmission line in Sky Acres Airport area

QUESTIONS

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Benefits (Short & Long Term)

Tonight we will cover:

Labor and workforce

Sourcing local business

Low impact design

Restoration of impacted areas

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Labor and Workforce

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Direct and indirect positive impacts to regional economy of over $1 billion over 20 years

Power Plant − Up to 750 direct construction jobs – averaging around 300 per year

for the estimated 3 year construction period (Approx. $147 million)− More than 1500 indirect, and induced jobs− 56 direct, indirect, and induced jobs supporting operations (post

construction phase)

Transmission Line− 60 to 80 direct construction jobs − Up to 80 additional Indirect and induced jobs in support of project

Sourcing Local Business

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Indirect and induced employment− Local purchases during construction

Materials and services For construction work force (meals, fuel, incidentals, lodging,

etc.)

− Local services to support construction and operation Sky Acres Airport and other sites to support construction

Tax Revenue to State, County, Towns, and School district

Low Impact Design

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Minimal footprint− Proposed transmission line will be constructed entirely

within the existing right-of-way− Existing Con Edison right-of-way is presently more

than 90% free of tree growth− For safety and reliability, some trees along the

southern edge of the right-of-way will be cleared in accordance with industry standard safety requirements (less than 8% of the total right-of-way area)

− Construction to be limited Pole locations – 4-5 per mile

Low Impact Design (continued)

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Construction measures− Protective measures such as hay bale and silt fence

barriers between the resource areas and work areas to prevent inadvertent impacts to wetlands and streams

− Highly-trained construction monitors to oversee work; including particular attention to sensitive areas to prevent any damage to wetlands and streams along the right-of-way

− Protection of threatened and endangered species habitats per DEC approval

− Physical avoidance, time of year restrictions − Use of rock anchors in most locations− Selective use of helicopters to set poles

Restoration of Impacted Areas

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Wetland restoration plan and remediation at CVE site in Dover

Transmission line – restoration of work areas

Natural buffers− Landscaping to screen the Pleasant Valley substation,

along Rt. 44− Natural tree buffer at CVE site in Dover

QUESTIONS

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Design Factors

Tonight we will cover:

Revised pole heights

Insulated cables

Ice and wind loads that can affect the line

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Revised Pole Heights

Reviewed technical requirements‒ National Electric Safety Code (NESC)‒ Con Edison‒ New York State Department of Public Service (DPS)

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Revised Pole Heights

Key Considerations‒ Con Edison phase-to-phase electrical clearance: 15

ft. minimum (displaced conductors)‒ Con Edison phase-to-ground electrical clearance: 9

ft. minimum (displaced conductors)‒ 35 foot electrical clearance to ground under

maximum operating temperature of 180ºC (356ºF)‒ EMF requirements

Distance to ground for EMF analysis: determined under winter normal temperature of 95ºC (203ºF)

For example: the span between CV-07 to CV-08 is 44 ft EMF: Electric field < 1.6kV/m at edge of right-of-way EMF: Magnetic field < 200 mG at edge of right-of-way

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Why not use insulated cables?

Technically impractical for overhead high voltage transmission lines

‒ Insulated cables would be 8 -10 inches in diameter changing the weight from 2.5 lbs/ft to 44.7 lbs/ft

‒ Would require 3 cables for each phase – 9 cables total

‒ Requires cable bridge supports, abutments and additional wires to support the cable

‒ More massive and intrusive than overhead bare cables

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What are the ice and wind loads?

Designs exceed NESC Code minimums

100-year wind loading of 25 psf wind pressure (100 mph) wind

100-year ice loading of 1” radial ice with a concurrent 8 psf (56 mph) wind

Unbalanced ½ inch ice

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QUESTIONS

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TOPICS FOR OUR NEXT ADVISORY WORKING GROUP

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