The Town of Greenwich and Eversource have reached an agreement to settle the legal challenge to the construction of a new Eversource substation and transmission lines in central Greenwich.
The Greenwich Board of Selectmen voted unanimously at its June 14, 2019 meeting to approve the settlement of the appeal that was filed in Superior Court in 2017.
Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei said, “The Town of Greenwich is pleased that this matter has been resolved in a manner that addresses key issues of concern raised by the Town and its professional staff.”
“The design of the project will safeguard many of the Town’s natural resources including Bruce Park and the adjacent inlets of Long Island Sound, protect critical Town infrastructure including its wastewater system as well as address the aesthetic concerns raised during this negotiation process.” – First Selectman Peter Tesei
Eversource Vice President of Project Management Steve Sullivan said, “We’re pleased we were able to reach a solution that is amenable for all involved. This agreement is a significant step toward further strengthening the electric system in Greenwich to ensure our customers have reliable power during heat waves, prolonged severe cold snaps and other peak times of high energy use.” Mr. Sullivan added, “This plan will allow us to meet their energy needs while being sensitive to neighborhood aesthetics.”
The Greenwich Substation and Line Project includes constructing a new substation at 290 Railroad Avenue and installing two new 115-kilovolt (kV) underground transmission lines that will connect the new substation to Eversource’s existing Cos Cob Substation on Sound Shore Drive. The new lines will run under local roads, under I-95, and parts of Bruce Park. Work is underway at both substation locations and along various segments of the route.
Key settlement components are related to the construction of an architectural wall and landscaping around Eversource’s new Greenwich substation as well as details regarding the construction of a pedestrian bridge in Bruce Park to support the new transmission lines. In addition, the settlement addresses work hours, traffic management and restoration of areas affected by the project.
Eversource will work with community leaders and property owners where work is
being done to mitigate potential impacts. The project is expected to be completed in 2020.
For more information on the Greenwich Substation and Line Project, please visit Eversource.com.