MidHudson News is reporting construction has begun on a 345-kilowatt power line that will run 54.5 miles through the region. The $530 million project will upgrade energy transmission from Rensselaer County to Dutchess County. Following state approvals, New York Transco began the first phase of the project with construction activities at the Churchtown Switching Station in Claverack. The first phase includes the installation of a temporary bypass electric line and rebuilding the existing Churchtown Switching Station. Phase two work includes all other aspects of the project and those details were recently submitted for regulatory review. Transco said the project will replace and upgrade existing transmission infrastructure in portions of Rensselaer, Columbia and Dutchess counties. Read more at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.