Burrillville power plant project advancing

BURRILLVILLE – Survey work will begin in early August as part of the pre-engineering on the electric transmission line route for the Clear River Energy Center, according to a statement released this week.

National Grid will coordinate an Invenergy contractor who will conduct soil tests and sampling in the existing right-of-way that travels from the Burrillville site of the proposed Clear River Energy Center, off Wallum Lake Road, to the existing National Grid switching station on Sherman Road. The survey work will help engineers assess the soil and rock along the 6.8-mile route as they plan where to locate transmission structures.

The survey work is expected to take between four to six weeks. All of the survey work will be performed on private land and in accordance with environmental permits and best practices, the release said.

National Grid is notifying abutters as well as local officials of the planned activity. More detail is available at www.Burrillvilleinterconnec- tion.com.

Meanwhile, the Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board is set to resume final permitting hearings next week on Invenergy’s proposal to build the 1,000-megawatt Clear River Energy Center.

Invenergy’s $1 billion investment in the project represents the largest-ever economic development project in Rhode Island. Invenergy will employ hundreds of workers to build and operate the project, the company said.

According to the company’s statement, the Clear River Energy Center will be the most efficient power facility in the region, reducing carbon emissions by roughly 600,000 tons each year – the equivalent of taking 100,000 cars off the road.

The Clear River Energy Center will contribute more than $90 million in new tax revenue for host community Burrillville. Invenergy has paid more than $1.6 million in impact fees to-date as part of its tax agreement with the town.

The project is expected to begin operations in 2021.