CB 11 Challenges 90-Mile Underground Grid Plan
Community Board 11 chairman argues the proposed route through Queens harms local infrastructure, despite state senator support for the 138 and 345 kilovolt lines.
By Giulia Gallagher ·
New York State approved a certificate for a major power transmission project in September, but local leaders in Queens are contesting the specific route through their district.
The proposed infrastructure consists of approximately 90 miles of new underground lines operating at 138 and 345 kilovolts. The project, known as Propel NY Energy, is a joint venture between New York Transco and the New York Power Authority. It connects nine substations and runs through Suffolk, Nassau, Queens, Bronx, and Westchester Counties.
Community Board 11 Chairman DiBenedetto sent a letter on Oct. 29 to state elected officials, reiterating the board's opposition. He raised the same points at the board's regular meeting on Monday. The primary objection is the physical impact on residential neighborhoods, including potential disruptions to schools, traffic, and emergency services.
State Sen. John Liu, a recipient of the letter, told the board on Monday that the project is necessary. He cited the state's push for electrification and the rise of electric vehicles as drivers for the need. Liu argued that the state must bring energy from Long Island into Queens via new cables.
The route enters Queens from Northern Boulevard at the Nassau County border. It passes through the waterline at Francis Lewis Park before crossing beneath the East River to the Bronx. DiBenedetto stated that the board is not opposed to the project itself, but to its location. He noted that the existing grid has not been updated since the 1980s, but that does not exempt the new project from responsible planning.
A specific point of contention is the section running beneath the Joe Michaels Mile between the Cross Island Parkway and Little Neck Bay. DiBenedetto proposed using horizontal directional drilling to lay the lines deeper. Marykate Guilfoyle, a media manager for New York Transco, responded that this technique is not viable for that specific stretch and would cause greater disruption.
Liu supported the decision to avoid running lines beneath the mile, citing city Parks Department concerns about future lighting and tree-planting projects. The board's letter was also sent to State Sen. Toby Stavisky, Assemblymember Ed Braunstein, U.S. Reps. Grace Meng and Tom Suozzi.
Source: QNS
