Department of Health will hold hearing on power plant

BURRILLVILLE – The Rhode Island Department of Health will hold a public hearing next week to solicit public feedback on the department’s informational advisory opinion relative to National Grid’s application before the state Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) to upgrade and construct new power lines between the Algonquin station and Sherman Farm Road substation to support Invenergy’s proposed 900-megawatt power plant in Pascoag.

The hearing will be held March 8 at 4 p.m. at the DOH office in the auditorium, Three Capitol Hill, Providence.

Specifically, the DOH’s advisory opinion is required to address the potential public health concerns relating to the biological responses to power frequency, electric, and magnetic fields associated with the operation of the project. The purpose of next Thurs- day’s hearing is to provide an opportunity for public comment on the opinion before the agency later this month submits it to the EFSB for consideration at its final hearing on the application. National Grid filed its application with the EFSB for the Burrillville Interconnection Project on Feb. 22, 2017. It was docketed by the agency on March 24, 2017. The EFSB’s first hearing on the application was on May 23, 2017.

In November of 2016, National Grid submitted its 2017 master construction plan to the EFSB which includes the Burrillville Interconnection Project. The utility says the project is needed to support the interconnection of the proposed Clear River Energy Center into the New England electric grid.

Project construction is expected to commence in 2017 and 2018 and includes:

• Construction of a new approximately 6.8 mile 345 kV transmission line (3052 Line) from the proposed Clear River Energy to the Sherman Road Switching Station in Burrillville.

• Reconstruct approximately 1.6 miles of the 345 kV 341 Line within the existing right of way to accommodate the 3052 Line.

• Relocate approximately 1.6 miles of the 345 kV 347 Line within the existing right of way to accommodate the 3052 Line.

• Modify the Sherman Road Switching Station to accommodate the 3052 Line.

• Relocate the last span of the 345 kV 328 Line into the Sherman Road Switching Station to accommodate the 3052 Line.

There will also be several CREC-related network upgrades network upgrades.

Written comments on theDOH’s opinion can be directed to Barbara Morin, RIDOH, Three Capitol Hill, Providence, Rhode Island 02906, by phone at (401) 222-7766, or by e-mail at barbara.h.morin@health.ri.gov.