With the flip of a switch on June 16, the controversial PSEG Long Island energy project spanning Port Washington to Manhasset to Great Neck became a reality.
The five miles of overhead lines strung from 200, 80- and 85-foot poles was placed into service that day, representing what PSEG spokesman Jeffrey Weir calls “a traditional reliability project…that enhances overall system reliability, hardens the system to better withstand extreme weather and meets the growing capacity needs of the residents of North Hempstead.”
The project took five months to complete after a year of planning. It cost $15 million, which will be borne by all ratepayers on Long Island because it is considered a capital improvement project and that is how PSEG handles them.
As for the project protecting against extreme weather like Superstorm Sandy, PSEG does not give a definitive answer. The project will reinforce “the system to better withstand extreme weather, like Superstorm Sandy,” Weir said. “The poles are designed to withstand winds up to 130 mph — greater than what was experienced during Superstorm Sandy. Additionally, the taller poles also bring the wires above the tree canopy in many places, thus further reducing the risk of outages related to downed limbs.”
While the electric portion is done, there is still necessary clean-up to be undertaken around the new poles, which will be handled by PSEG, Weir said.
There is also the need to transfer Cablevision and Verizon wiring to the new poles from the 45-foot poles they replaced. That job will fall to Verizon, “because they are usually the last to move their wires,” Weir said. A Verizon spokesman could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, the Town of North Hempstead and many residents continue stewing at the sight of the 80- and 85-foot poles and, in the town’s case, what it says is a lack of cooperation from PSEG.
Typical of the town’s frustration
is a meeting representatives recently held with the utility at its headquarters in Hicksville. The receptionist didn’t even know a meeting was scheduled, said Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio.
Things didn’t get better from there, according to De Giorgio.
The get-together was aimed at talking with and getting documents from PSEG engineers about placing the wires underground, something that residents have called for and the town is looking into.
With the town representatives, who included Rachel Brinn, director of legislative affairs for Supervisor Judi Bosworth; was Torben Aabo, the engineering consultant the town hired to access so called undergrounding the wires.
Weir said the meeting was amiable, with PSEG “answering all of [the town representatives’] questions and any outstanding questions, they had the answers emailed to them.”
Additionally, “We provided them with an estimated cost analysis” of burying the wires, Weir said. That cost is $20 million to $30 million, plus another $500,000 per mile, or $2.5 million, to undo the work that has already been done, if that route was chosen, according to PSEG and the New York State Department of Public Service. If PSEG were to underground the wires, ratepayers in the affected areas would have to pay for the project.
De Giorgio came away from the meeting with PSEG with a very different view, saying the town contingent was given documents that PSEG had already turned over and representatives were also told that certain information was confidential. When town representatives offered to sign a confidentiality agreement, nothing was done, De Giorgio said. “It’s frustrating. They are stonewalling us.”
“We are working hand-in-hand with their consultant on any questions they have,” is Weir’s view.
“They are answering what they feel like answering,” De Giorgio counters. “They are giving out the information they want to give out, not necessarily the information we need.”
The next step on the town’s part
is for Aabo to finish his evaluation
of undergrounding the wires, with
the goal of coming up with a feasibility and cost assessment. From there, the town would possibly consider a referendum for residents to vote
on whether they want to go that
route, and take on the cost, which would be included in their utility bills.
Also, Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington remains active, feeling the poles should be uprooted, with the cost borne by PSEG. “We shouldn’t have to pay for their lack of communication with us early on,” said Mindy Germain, executive director.
The group will also redouble its efforts with state legislators, Germain said.
