Input sought on line routes

Galloo Island Wind Farm's developer is asking for public comment again, this time on four possible routes for a transmission line.

Upstate NY Power Corp. on Monday will begin a series of public information meetings in Jefferson and Oswego counties about the routes. Information with maps of the routes was sent to towns and villages where the line may run and is available on the developer's website.

As part of a detailed look at the four alternatives, "Upstate Power seeks community input with regards to issues of local concern," Thomas L. Hagner, project manager, wrote to officials in a July 15 letter.

Originally, project developer Upstate NY Power proposed a route from Galloo Island to make landfall on Stony Point and run south through Henderson and Ellisburg on its way to a substation in the town of Mexico. That route drew intense public opposition.

In the negotiations for the Jefferson County Board of Legislators' approval of the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement for the project, the developer agreed to change its preferred route. Legislators want to see either an entirely underwater route to connect at Scriba or an overland route to come aground in Hounsfield and connect at National Grid's Coffeen Street substation.

The Public Service Commission had agreed to a suspension of the developer's application in March to give the company time to collect information on possible routes. A September meeting was pushed back to Oct. 13, with a final report from the developer to follow.

Two of the four alternatives use much of the originally preferred route with landfall on Stony Point and identical portions through southern Jefferson County. One connects to a larger line in the town of Mexico, while the other goes to Lighthouse Hill and connects in Parish.

Another alternative is the underwater route. The fourth alternative makes landfall in the southern part of Sackets Harbor and runs through Hounsfield to National Grid's Coffeen Street substation. It then turns north and runs around the city of Watertown in the towns of Pamelia and LeRay to Black River. Then it turns south and runs through Rutland, Rodman, Worth, Boylston and Orwell to Lighthouse Hill, where it extends through Albion to a substation in Parish.

In June, the company met with National Grid and Jefferson County officials about interconnecting at the Coffeen Street substation. But National Grid has yet to receive an order to investigate cost, which would come from the state's wholesale grid operator, a spokeswoman said.

Upstate NY Power is analyzing alternative transmission routes through a two-tiered approach, attorney James A. Muscato II of Young, Sommer, Ward, Ritzenberg, Baker & Moore LLC, Albany, wrote in a June 22 letter to the commission's administrative law judge on the case. Mr. Muscato represents Upstate NY Power.

The first tier looks at the comparative benefits and drawbacks of potential line locations to eliminate those where the downsides clearly outweigh the positives. Mr. Muscato wrote then and repeated in a July 16 letter to the judge that this evaluation is almost done.

The second tier analysis will include assessments of the potential reliability, congestion, cost and other concerns. But that won't begin until the public meetings are over.

"The aim of these meetings is to inform communities that could potentially be affected by amendments in the application of such potential changes and obtain feedback before making any final decisions on proposing/evaluating such new alternatives," Mr. Muscato wrote on July 16.

Officials in Jefferson and Oswego counties continue to push for the least-intrusive line for landowners.

"I really want a hard number on the cost difference between the on-land options that we're talking about and that subaquatic path," said Legislator Barry M. Ormsby, R-Belleville. "I don't think we're that far from making that a reasonable route when we're thinking about everything involved."

The developer needs to consider possible landowner litigation, extension of current rights of way and other issues with an overland route that wouldn't exist with the subaquatic one, he said.

"My push and focus is that their preferred route would be the subaquatic path, not the original line they had spoken of," Mr. Ormsby said.

In the county's view, the route to Coffeen Street would be the primary option only if the subaquatic route wouldn't work.

Shawn P. Doyle, an Oswego County legislator who represents Pulaski, said the alternate near the currently preferred route is "very close to the original line proposed three years ago" and would cut through Altmar and Parish along County Route 22.

That route does have utility easements already, but Mr. Doyle said he doesn't trust that the developer is telling the whole truth.

"I think they're writing themselves in a corner so the route through the village of Pulaski is the cheapest, most compelling route for the PSC so they say, 'Suck it up and do it,'" he said. "I feel they're giving Jefferson County lip service on Coffeen Street."

He said no matter the route, he would want to see the line buried.

Agricultural representatives again voiced displeasure at the routes through southern Jefferson County.

"If they start talking about going through southern Jefferson County again, they will have a fight on their hands," said Jay M. Matteson, county agricultural coordinator. "We will not accept that power line going across farmers' land in Jefferson County, especially if it means eminent domain will have to be used."

MEETING SCHEDULE
Upstate NY Power Corp. has confirmed these meetings, with others to follow, at municipal buildings to explain the remaining four alternative transmission routes:
•6 p.m. Monday in Glen Park
•7 p.m. Monday in the village of Sandy Creek
•7 p.m. Wednesday in Altmar
•6:30 p.m. Aug. 10 in Albion
•7 p.m. Aug. 11 in Rodman
•7 p.m. Aug. 11 in the town of Sandy Creek
•7 p.m. Aug. 12 in LeRay
•7 p.m. Aug. 12 in Lorraine
•7:30 p.m. Aug. 12 in Rutland
•6 p.m. Aug. 17 in Hounsfield
•7:30 p.m. Aug. 17 in Boylston
•6:30 p.m. Sept. 8 in Scriba
•7 p.m. Sept. 9 in the town of Watertown
•6:30 p.m. Sept. 13 in Black River
•7 p.m. Sept. 14 in Orwell
•7 p.m. Sept. 16 in the town of Parish
•7 p.m. Sept. 20 in New Haven