With more than two decades of experience successfully permitting large utility projects, Advanced Power chose Epsilon to lead the extensive permitting effort for over 17 miles of transmission line proposed to connect their new gas-fired power plant to NYISO’s electricity grid.
Overview
The new Cricket Valley Energy Center in Dover, NY will deliver power to the grid via a new overhead 345 kV 14.6-mile transmission line and through 3.4 miles of reconductored circuits along Con Edison’s existing 345 kV line (Line 398) in southern Dutchess County, New York.
The new and reconductored circuits will connect Cricket Valley’s new 1,000 MW gas-fired combined cycle power plant in Dover to the power grid at Con Edison’s substation in Pleasant Valley, New York. The new transmission line was constructed along an existing Con Edison right-of-way parallel to Con Edison’s existing 345 kV transmission line. Line 398 was upgraded (reconductored) from the new power plant east to connect with the NEISO electric power grid in Connecticut.
The project also included improvements to Con Edison’s Pleasant Valley Substation. New protection and communication system upgrades were required within the existing Pleasant Valley Substation and control buildings at the Pleasant Valley Substation, and a new 345 kV breaker and 345 kV feeder disconnect switch was installed at the substation.
Contribution
Having successfully permitted large energy projects in New York State, Epsilon was uniquely qualified to lead the permitting efforts for this new energy project. Epsilon’s skilled team of scientists prepared the Application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need under Article VII of the New York State Public Service Law.
Epsilon also secured approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the Clean Water Act’s Nationwide Permit program. In support of the Article VII and U.S. Army Corps permitting processes, Epsilon conducted a range of environmental studies and analyses, including:
- Delineation and assessment of wetland impacts,
- Identification of habitats for Rare, Threatened, and Endangered (RTE) species, such as the Timber Rattlesnake,
- Assessment of visual resource impacts in collaboration with Saratoga Associates, and
- Evaluation of cultural resource impacts in partnership with John Milner Associates.
Additionally, Epsilon’s senior staff provided expert witness testimony during Article VII adjudicatory hearings before the Public Service Commission. These hearings included cross-examinations by intervenors representing local opposition to the project’s design. Epsilon’s experienced staff are consistently well-prepared to deliver compelling testimony in such high-stakes settings.
Epsilon’s efforts culminated in a successful outcome, securing a positive Recommended Decision from the Adjudicatory Law Judge. Subsequently, Cricket Valley received its Certificate under Article VII from the NYS Public Service Commission in April 2016, and approval from the U.S. Army Corps in January 2016.
Following these approvals, Epsilon prepared the Environmental Management and Construction Plan (EM&CP) for the project. The EM&CP detailed compliance with the Article VII Certificate Conditions and included comprehensive Plan and Profile drawings specifying construction methods that ensured protection of wetlands and RTE species habitats.
Epsilon continued its support by providing compliance monitoring and construction oversight. The project was completed in 2019 and is now operational, supporting the Energy Center.
Achievement
This project delivers an updated and reliable energy source to the New York region, completed on schedule thanks to the timely receipt of critical approvals despite a challenging regulatory environment.
Epsilon is honored to have contributed to this significant energy project for the State of New York. Leveraging our energy expertise to support a project of this scale and achieving successful outcomes is a source of great pride for our team.