Eversource Public Comment Period
NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT HEARING
PLEASE READ
NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy has filed three related petitions with the Energy Facilities Siting Board (“Siting Board”) and the Department of Public Utilities (“Department”) in connection with the Company’s proposal to construct, operate and maintain an approximately 12.5-mile, overhead 115-kilovolt (“kV”) electric transmission line in the towns of Bourne, Sandwich, and Barnstable, Massachusetts (“New Line”). The New Line will be constructed in an existing Eversource right-of-way (“ROW”) which extends between Eversource’s Bourne Switching Station and West Barnstable Substation. The Bourne Switching Station and West Barnstable Substation will require related equipment modifications, and the existing western fence line at the West Barnstable Substation will be extended by approximately 65 feet for those modifications. The New Line, together with the related station modifications, are referred to as the Mid Cape Reliability Project (the “Project”). The Company has proposed the Project to enhance the reliability of the regional electric transmission system on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The Siting Board will review the Project to determine whether the Project will provide a reliable energy supply with a minimum impact on the environment at the lowest possible cost, and whether the proposed Project is necessary, serves the public convenience, and is consistent with the public interest.
The Company also seeks individual and comprehensive zoning relief from the Barnstable Zoning Ordinance to complete the proposed modifications to the West Barnstable Substation. The Siting Board will review the Company’s petition to determine whether the requested zoning exemptions in Barnstable are required for the Project and whether the present or proposed use of the land or structures is reasonably necessary for the convenience or welfare of the public.
The attached legal notice describes the Company’s requests to construct and operate the Project, the Company’s petition for zoning relief related to the proposed modifications at the West Barnstable Substation, and the opportunities for public participation in the review process. Please read this notice carefully.
The Siting Board will conduct a public comment hearing using Zoom videoconferencing to receive public comment on the Project at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10, 2020. Attendees can join by clicking (or entering) the following link: https://zoom.us/j/93490203778 from a computer, smartphone, or tablet. No prior software download is required. For audio-only participation, attendees can dial in at 1 (646) 558-8656 (not toll free) and then enter the Meeting ID# 934-9020-3778. If you anticipate providing comments via Zoom during the hearing, please send an email to Geneen.Bartley@mass.gov with your name, email address and mailing address by June 9, 2020. If you anticipate commenting by telephone, please leave a voicemail message at 617-305-3529 with your name, telephone number, and mailing address by June 9, 2020. Additional commenters may be allowed during the hearing, at the discretion of the Presiding Officer. Anyone with an interest in the Project is encouraged to comment, either orally at the virtual public comment hearing, by electronic mail, or by written submissions mailed to the Siting Board’s address.
Persons and groups affected by the Company’s petitions who wish to be involved in the Siting Board’s review process may request to participate as either intervenors or limited participants. Such requests must meet the criteria outlined in the attached Notice. The deadline to make such a request is 5:00 p.m. on July 1, 2020. The process for making a request to participate is explained in the Notice. Questions concerning participation also will be answered at the public comment hearing.
Copies of the Company’s petitions are available for public inspection at the locations listed on the enclosed Notice. If you have any questions about the Siting Board’s review process, please email the Presiding Officer, Donna Sharkey, at donna.sharkey@mass.gov or leave a message at (617) 305-3625. The Siting Board’s offices are located at One South Station, Boston, MA 02110.