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WGXC Special Project: West Point Partners

May 06, 2015 12:01 pm
The West Point Partners project is part of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s Energy Highway initiative, and is intended to deliver additional energy to New York City. According to its proposal, West Point would construct a 1,000 megawatt converter station in the town of Athens and a second in the hamlet of Verplanck. The two stations would be connected by a buried High Voltage Direct Current cable extending 80 miles, eight feet beneath the bottom of the Hudson River.







PSC hears opposition to West Point project


May 7, 2014 in Athens by Volunteer | No comments (edit)






[Updated: May 8 (corrected "Gerald" Bunting to "Jerry" Bunting; corrected "Cappalano" to "Capuano;" added Public Service Commission affiliation in reference to Heather Bencke and Jeremy Flaum); May 12 (corrected "Bencke" to "Behnke")]

The E.J. Arthur Elementary School in Athens was the site last month of two public hearings held by the New York State Public Service Commission on the West Point Partners high voltage buried cable and DC converter station project. More than 150 people attended the second of the two hearings, held Wed., Apr. 23. Commission representatives Heather Behnke and Jeremy Flaum began the evening with a presentation about the Article VII process, then took questions. They were followed by Chris Hocker, Vice President of Planning for the Fairfield, Conn.-based private investment firm Power Bridge, LLC. Power Bridge is West Point’s parent company.



(c) freefoto.com




During the public hearing that followed, various community members, activists and public officials offered comments in front of Judge Kevin Casutto: PLAY (3:24). The Athens Town and Village boards are on the record in opposition to the project’s proposed route, but neither government has opposed the siting of the converter station or the project overall. A similar public hearing was held before Casutto, Fri., Apr. 30, in Cortlandt, the location of the project’s southern terminus. Andrea Smallwood and Sam Sebren attended that hearing on behalf of the Athens Citizens Development Committee. During that hearing, Cortlandt elected officials expressed unanimous opposition to the proposal.

The West Point Partners project is part of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s Energy Highway initiative, and is intended to deliver additional energy to New York City. According to its proposal, West Point would construct a 1,000 megawatt converter station in the town of Athens and a second in the hamlet of Verplanck. The two stations would be connected by a buried High Voltage Direct Current cable extending 80 miles, eight feet beneath the bottom of the Hudson River. Ed. note: Sebren attended and participated in these hearings. He is a founding member of the Athens Citizens Development Committee. Read more about the West Point Partners project online at newsroom.wgxc.org.

– Sam Sebren


New York State Public Service Commission Public Hearing
April 23, 2014
E.J. Arthur Elementary School, Athens
All audio recorded and produced by Sam Sebren.

Collage: Citizen comments: PLAY (3:24)

Heather Behnke and Jeremy Flaum, New York State Public Service Commission
Full presentation: PLAY (23:15).
Commission presentation Q&A
Commission permit details (John Drew); project financing (Cecilia Tkaczyk); waiver requests and local law (Sam Sebren): PLAY (15:23).
Chris Hocker, Vice President, Planning, Power Bridge LLC
West Point Partners presentation: PLAY (11:59).
West Point presentation Q&A
Size of converter station (anonymous); disruption to roads while cable is laid (John Drew); noise (Luke Weiller); alternative routes (Tina Chaden); cost and economic impact on the village (Cecilia Tkaczyk): PLAY (12:41).
Derek Apa, Athens resident, Central Hudson lineman
Speaks in opposition to the project: PLAY (3:47).
Audrey Friedrichsen, Attorney for Scenic Hudson
Speaks about the cumulative impacts on the river and on land, siting for stations, etc.: PLAY (8:17).
Gary Smith, homeowner near proposed converter station site
Zoning ordinances and noise: PLAY (1:40)
Cecilia Tkaczyk, New York State Senator
Comments on future evidentiary hearings, the impact on the village economy and school, etc.: PLAY (7:07).
Chris Pfister, Village of Athens Mayor
The need for an alternative route: PLAY (12:48).
Jerry Bunting, Athens Citizens Development Committee
Traffic disruption, economic disruption, blasting bedrock, etc.: PLAY (9:14).
Susanne Norris
Environmental and health impacts, smart growth for Athens, etc.: PLAY (7:45)
Ralph Favicchio, Athens Citizens Development Committee
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s Energy Highway: PLAY (13:39).
Jacqueline Goddeau, Athens Citizens Development Committee
Safety issues, West Point requests for local law waivers, etc.: PLAY (6:21).
Al Ramm, Athens Citizens Development Committee, retired industrial electrician
Dangers of HVDC and 345,000kv, changes in the original West Point plan: PLAY (2:42).
Sam Sebren, Athens Citizens Development Committee
Questions the value and economic viability of the West Point project overall: PLAY (6:59).
Andrea Smallwood, Athens Citizens Development Committee
Potential disruption and dangers to Athens water and sewer infrastructure, station location: PLAY (3:01).
Mark Levanway, Athens Citizens Development Committee
Conflicts with new gas line, safety concerns, etc.: PLAY (3:24).
Mary Jo Wynne, homeowner on route
Disruption to daily life, quality of life: PLAY (2:09).
Ron Puhalski, Athens Citizens Development Committee
Disruption to school access and fire, police, EMS response time; no traffic studies or economic impact studies have been done: PLAY (4:00).
Joseph Capuano, Athens resident
Spoke in opposition to the project: PLAY (1:32)
Nora Adelman
No mention of the Department of Health in Article VII process: PLAY (5:07).
Michael Black
Plea for the Commission to help the public: PLAY (5:30).
Tom Ragle
Concerns about West Point disregard for local laws: PLAY (3:43).
Carrie Feder
Negative impacts on the historic village, concern about more projects to follow: PLAY (6:20).
John Drew
Health and economic impacts, property devaluation: PLAY (3:29).
Forest Cotten, Athens Citizens Development Committee
Questions necessity for project: PLAY (5:52).
Lee Palmateer
Opposition to route: PLAY (5:51).
Deborah Artman
Project belongs in an industrial zone: PLAY (4:04).
Kenneth Baldwin
Concerns about community exploitation: PLAY (5:54).
Other media:


  • Video footage of the Commission hearings held in Cortlandt on Apr. 30, can be found here. (Total playing time: 4:48:04.)

  • “Foes’ concerns come through loud and clear,” by Melanie Lekocevic, The Daily Mail (Apr. 25) can be found here.

  • “No customers for Authority’s power: Authority deal to buy energy for NYC has quickly produced more than $43 million in losses,’ by James M. Odato, Times Union (Apr. 5) can be found here.

  • To access the full record go to www.dps.ny.gov and search for Case #13-T-0292.



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PSC announces transmission line hearings


April 12, 2014 in Upstate New York by Staff | No comments (edit)






The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) announced April 10 that it is seeking comment on a proposal by West Point Partners, LLC to construct an approximately 80-mile, 1,000-megawatt transmission line from a National Grid substation in the Town of Athens, in Greene County to a Consolidated Edison substation in the Village of Buchanan, Town of Cortlandt, in Westchester County. The majority of the transmission line will be buried in the Hudson River and within existing public rights-of-way. The PSC hosts public hearings in Athens on Wed., Apr. 23 at the Athens Volunteer Firehouse, 39 Third St. with an Informational Forum at 2 p.m., and the Public Hearing at 3 p.m. and a later meeting at Edward J. Arthur Elementary School Auditorium, 51 Third St., in Athens, with an Informational Forum at 6 p.m and the Public Hearing at 7 p.m. The Commission may approve, modify, or reject West Point Partners’ proposal in whole or in part. The proposed project would comprise the following principal components:

  • Approximately 77.3 miles of in-river 320 kilovolt (kV) high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission cable, with associated communications fiber, buried in the bed of the Hudson River;

  • Two underground transition vaults, one at each end of the in-river cable route, where the in-river cable would be connected to the land transmission cables;

  • Approximately 3.6 miles of 320 kV HVDC land transmission cable linking in-river cable to the northern and southern converter stations;

  • Two HVDC converter stations, one at each end of the in-river cable, linking the cable to the 345 kV alternating current (AC) grid; and

  • Approximately 1.6 miles of 345 kV AC land cable connecting the HVDC converter stations to the Leeds and Buchanan North substations.


Read the rest of this entry »





PSC to hold West Point public hearings in April


March 26, 2014 in Athens by Staff | No comments (edit)






The New York State Public Service Commission Tues., Mar. 25, announced it will hold two public hearings on the West Point Partners proposal to construct and operate an HVDC transmission line known as the West Point Project. The two hearings will be held Wed., Apr. 23, in Athens. The first hearing will begin at 2 p.m., and be held at the Athens Firehouse. The second will be held at E.J. Arthur Elementary School, beginning at 6 p.m. Both hearings will begin with an informational forum followed by the public statement hearing. The West Point Project, if approved, would run a transmission line from Athens to Cortlandt and then tie into existing transmission facilities downstate to deliver power into New York City. The project also includes the contruction of a converter station in Athens. For a report on the PSC’s recent procedural conference go to newsroom.wgxc.org.


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PSC holds conference on West Point project


March 25, 2014 in Albany by Volunteer | No comments (edit)








West Point Transmission
(Courtesy westpointproject.com)




The New York State Public Service Commission held a procedural conference Thu., March 20, in Albany before Administrative Law Judge Kevin Casutto. The purpose of the conference was to hear comments on the West Point Partners proposal to construct and operate a 345kV HVDC transmission line known as West Point Project, which, if approved, would run from Athens to Cortlandt and then tie into existing transmission facilities to deliver power into New York City. The conference was held to identify interested parties, to discuss requests for intervenor funding, to determine a procedural schedule, and the necessity for, and locations of future public statement hearings. An attorney representing the town and village of Athens spoke, and questioned the cumulative impacts, overall need and alternatives for the project: PLAY (1:46). More than 30 people attended the conference in person or via video conferencing, including representatives of West Point, the town and village of Athens, and eight members of the Athens Citizens Development Committee. Also present were representatives of the New York Power Authority, Champlain Hudson, the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, Central Hudson Gas and Electric, the state Department of Environmental Conservation, Scenic Hudson, Riverkeeper, the town of Cortlandt and the hamlet of Verplanck. WGXC was the only representative of the media in attendance. NOTE: Sam Sebren is a founding member of the Athens Citizens Development Committee.

– Sam Sebren


All audio recorded and produced by Sam Sebren.



Full conference recording (in two parts):

Part 1: PLAY (1:00:14)



Part 2: PLAY (20:59)


Clips

  1. Representatives of the state Department of Environmental Conservation asks about the relationship between the DC project and the AC project, and if there is an overlap in need: PLAY (1:07).

  2. Attorney representing the town of Cortlandt (Westchester Co.) raises concerns of noise, safety and questions the necessity of the project: PLAY (1:19).

  3. Judge Kevin Casutto and attorney representing West Point Partners discuss public disclosure: PLAY (1:13).

  4. West Point Partners and attorney representing town and village of Athens discuss alternatives to West Point proposal: PLAY (2:55).

  5. West Point Partners and DEC discuss perspectives on alternatives to the West Point proposal: PLAY (2:15)

  6. Scenic Hudson, DEC, West Point and Casutto discuss the need to extend the schedule, alternatives to the project and comparisons to the Champlain Hudson buried line project: PLAY (3:24).

  7. Prior to the proceeding, James Denn, the Director of Public Affairs for the state Public Service Commission spoke with members of ACDC: PLAY (13:08).

  8. The ACDC asks Denn about comparative DC projects: PLAY (2:15).



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Athens group shares information on West Point


March 12, 2014 in Athens by Volunteer | No comments (edit)






On Thurs., Mar. 6, Athens residents attended a public meeting presented by the Athens Citizens Development Committee at the Athens American Legion, concerning the proposed West Point Partners high voltage direct current converter station and buried power lines project. The standing-room only crowd heard the details of the matter, currently in the Article VII approval process at the New York State Public Service Commission. West Point is being considered as part of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s Energy Highway initiative to provide additional power to New York City. The proposal will not deliver power locally. Cortlandt Fire Department Deputy Chief and Cortlandt Fire Inspector Holly Haight presented video footage depicting the buzzing sound of a 660 megawatt converter station in an industrial area of Hicksville. Civil engineer Bernard Vaughey provided numerous details surrounding the construction phase of West Point and the property devaluation that would result. He also spoke about the complications of buried lines, the size of underground vaults and waivers to get around local codes: PLAY (1:58). Vaughey and Haight also represent the Town of Cortlandt Task Force led by Town Supervisor Linda Puglisi, a group that strongly opposes West Point. The presentation also included speakers from ACDC, Andrea Smallwood, Forest Cotten and Sam Sebren. Athens Village Mayor Chris Pfister announced during the Q&A session he opposes West Point’s proposed route through the village, but he does not oppose the project overall because he believes the project will provide a financial benefit for Athens. Several residents spoke following the presentation, and voiced concerns over property values, health, blight, disruption to traffic and daily life in the village during the proposal’s projected two years of construction. Neither the town of Athens or the Greene County Legislature have taken a position on the project so far. ED NOTE: Sam Sebren is a founding member of the Athens Citizens Development Committee.

– Sam Sebren


March 6, 2014 Public Information meeting presented by the Athens Citizens Development Committee
(All audio recorded and produced by Sam Sebren)



ANDREA SMALLWOOD, ACDC speaker PLAY (3:02)
Describes the West Point Partners project and questions the future quality of life in Athens if the project is approved.

FOREST COTTEN, ACDC speaker PLAY (1:46)

Questions the need to site energy projects for New York City upstate for only 15 hours a year of need, while offering a minimal tax benefit to Athens.

HOLLY HAIGHT, guest speaker, Cortlandt Fire Department Deputy Chief and Cortlandt Fire Inspector PLAY (2:02)
Speaks about the fire safety hazards of a DC converter station especially if West Point, especially if codes are waived.

BERNARD VAUGHEY (#1), guest speaker, retired civil engineer for the state of New York PLAY (2:02)
Speaks about AC versus DC; the cost of the West Point project.
BERNARD VAUGHEY (#2), guest speaker, retired civil engineer for the state of New York PLAY (1:58)
Speaks about the complications of buried lines, the size of underground vaults and waivers to get around local codes.
BERNARD VAUGHEY (#3), guest speaker, retired civil engineer for the state of New York PLAY (2:07)
Speaks about “duct banks” and the depth of buried lines related to water levels and other buried projects, also the complications of repairs to lines buried in the river.
BERNARD VAUGHEY (#4), guest speaker, retired civil engineer for the state of New York PLAY (1:47)
Speaks about redacted info in West Point applications.
BERNARD VAUGHEY (#5), guest speaker, retired civil engineer for the state of New York PLAY (:43)
Speaks of the need to verify if the West Point project is needed.
CHRIS PFISTER, Athens Village Mayor PLAY (1:48)
On whether the village opposes West Point Partners.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE AUDIENCE MEMBER PLAY (2:34)
Identifies himself as a litigator; urges Athens to fight and oppose the West Point project.
AL RAMM, Athens resident; retired electrician for LeHigh Cement PLAY (1:08)
Speaks of the dangers of high voltage going past the schools and homes.
JOANNE ADAMO CONWAY, broker/owner of Heartland Realty in Coxsackie PLAY (:35)
Speaks about the relationship between power lines and the reduction of property values.
JACQUELINE GODDEAU, Athens resident PLAY (1:15)
Speaks about the waivers West Point has requested to remove noise, work restrictions.

PLAY full meeting recording (1:41:11)
Agenda:




  1. ACDC speakers: Andrea Smallwood, Forest Cotten, Sam Sebren

  2. Special guest speakers: Holly Haight, Deputy Fire Chief and Fire Inspector for Cortlandt, NY; and Bernard Vaughey, retired NYS civil engineer and lifelong resident of Verplanck, NY

  3. Question and Answer session



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Athens Citizens group FOILs West Point info


January 22, 2014 in Athens by Volunteer | No comments (edit)






The Athens Citizens Development Committee presented a Freedom of Information Law request to the Athens Town Board during the board’s regular meeting, Tues., Jan. 21. Approximately 15 members of the public were in attendance. The group is seeking information concerning the West Point Partners proposed project for buried dC power lines and converter station in Athens. Group spokesman Ralph Favicchio questioned the board about a resolution opposing the proposed route of the cables through the village and the proposed siting of the converter station on land zoned rural residential/open space conservation. Town Supervisor Joseph Iraci responded to Favicchio’s concerns, explaining the nature of town officials’ interaction with West Point to date PLAY (:35). [Ed. note: Sebren is a founding member of ACDC.]

– Sam Sebren


Full audio
(Recorded and produced by Sam Sebren)

  • Favicchio addressed the board about the West Point converter station and questioned the benefits of the project. Responses from board member April Paluch and Iraci. PLAY (4:30)

  • Full presentation by ACDC PLAY (23:23)



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NYC energy in contention in Athens


December 29, 2013 in Athens, Leeds, Upstate New York by Staff | Permalink (edit)






Melanie Lekocevic reports in The Daily Mail that five different energy companies are attempting to set up business transmitting electricity to New York City through the town of Athens, and some locals there have formed the Athens Citizens Development Committee to voice concern about the various projects’ impact on issues such as “safety, traffic, health, property values, and aesthetics.” West Point Partners, North American Transmission, NextEra Energy Transmission, New York Transmission Owners, and Boundless Energy all have proposals capitalizing on Athens’ proximity to the Leeds transfer station and the Hudson River. The community group seems most concerned with the West Point Partners project, which would run underground power cables down Vernon St. The Town Council and the Village Board have expressed similar concerns, according to Lekocevic, and have also filed for “intervener funding” available to communities impacted by the project. Town Supervisor Lee Allen Palmateer said at a recent council meeting that “I don’t think Athens will have the clout to stop this entirely, but bringing in a converter station should help with the tax base. We need to have a backbone and a brain so we don’t give away the ship,” Palmateer said. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.


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Citizens take power line issues to Village Board


November 26, 2013 in Athens by Volunteer | No comments (edit)






One week after its presentation to the Athens Town Board, the newly established Athens Citizens Development Committee was present for a meeting of the Athens Village Board, Mon., Nov. 25. Committee spokesman Ralph Favicchio ((fah-VEE-chee-oh) offered a statement laying out the group’s position on several power line projects currently under consideration for Athens. Favicchio specifically called for the Village Board to oppose the West Point Partners buried DC power lines project. Board member Bob June asked what aspects of the West Point project were of the greatest concern to the group and Favicchio responded PLAY (5:10). Athens Mayor Chris Pfister stated it is so far unclear what the benefits of the West Point project would be for the village PLAY (1:30). Former village mayor and Athens Citizens Development Committee member Andrea Smallwood spoke about the decision to locate the WPP converter station on land zoned Rural Residential and Open Space Conservation. PLAY (2:02) Those zoning designations were created as part of the Athens 2007 Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan was partially state funded and created to support and preserve the quality of life in Athens, Smallwood said. The power line projects currently under consideration are all part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Energy Highway initiative to bring additional power downstate. None of the projects provide power to Athens or other communities in the region. PLAY (36:24) the full Athens Citizens Development Committee presentation and discussion with the Village Board. (ED Note: Sebren is a member of the Athens Citizens Development Committee.)

– Sam Sebren




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Athens group: Fight West Point Partners plan


November 19, 2013 in Athens by Volunteer | No comments (edit)






At the meeting of the Athens Town Board, Mon., Nov. 18, the newly established Athens Citizens Development Committee addressed the board with concerns over five power line proposals currently before the New York State Public Service Commission, which would affect the town and village. Committee spokesperson Ralph Favicchio (fah-VEE-chee-oh) proposed the board pass a resolution against the West Point Partners project to route a buried transmission line through the historic district. He also asked for the Public Service Commission to conduct a public meeting for town and village officials to explain the details of the cumulative impact on Athens of the West Point project, along with four other overhead power line projects under consideration. The projects are all part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Energy Highway initiative to bring additional power downstate. None of the projects provide power to Athens or other communities in the region. The stated mission of the Development Committee is to maintain and protect the existing quality of life in Athens; to ensure development occurs in an appropriate manner and is compatible with the small town’s identity, while contributing substantially to the economic base. PLAY clip of Favicchio’s presentation (2:09); PLAY clip of responses from Athens Town Supervisor Lee Palmateer (2:30); PLAY full Athens Citizens Development Committee presentation (18:25). (ED Note: Sebren is a member of the Athens Citizens Development Committee.)

– Sam Sebren




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Athens residents learn more about power project


October 17, 2013 in Athens by Volunteer | No comments (edit)





More than 70 people attended an informational meeting held by West Point Partners and the state Public Service Commission, and hosted by the town and village of Athens at the Athens Volunteer Fire Department, Wed., Oct. 16. The meeting focused on West Point’s $1 billion plan for construction of a six-acre DC converter substation and buried high voltage DC transmission lines through the town and village of Athens, projected to go online by 2016 or 2017. The line would enter the river at Peckham Industries and resurface downriver in Buchanan where another converter station would be built. Residents in attendance expressed a variety of concerns about the project. Chief among them: The decision to route the lines through residential areas of the village. Residents also questioned how the project would benefit Athens or the local area, given its purpose is to deliver power to New York City. The panel of speakers included Jeremy Flaum of the Public Service Commission, Chris Hocker, Vice President of Planning for West Point and Susan Brown, Project Coordinator for PowerBridge, West Point’s parent company. Athens Town Supervisor Lee Palmateer and Athens Mayor Chris Pfister moderated the event. Palmateer said he is against the proposed route, but not entirely against the project. Pfister expressed his opinion of the project and concerns about the route. PLAY clip (3:26). The 1,000 megawatt project is part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s “Energy Highway” initiative. On Wednesday, Hocker made a point of noting the project is not part of any plan to close Indian Point Energy Center, a three-unit nuclear power plant station located in Buchanan. West Point Partners is based in Fairfield, Conn. ED. NOTE: Sebren is a resident of Athens.


– Sam Sebren


Additional audio:
PLAY Excerpts of remarks by Jeremy Flaum, Utility Analyst, Office of Energy Efficiency and the Environment of the Public Service Commission. (2:19)
PLAY Remarks by Chris Hocker, Vice President of Planning, West Point Partners. (4:25)
PLAY Sebren’s Q&A with Chris Hocker of West Point Partners. (6:32)
PLAY Collage of residents’ Q&A with Chris Hocker of West Point Partners. (5:34)
PLAY Jeremy Flaum, Utility Analyst, Office of Energy and the Environment, Public Service Commission. (56:01)
PLAY Full, unedited Hocker presentation and Q&A. (2:05:00)

For more information about the project, see this NY Dept of Public Service document: http://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/Common/ViewDoc.aspx?DocRefId=%7B4267045B-C627-413B-8CBE-ABA076E3176B%7D


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