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New England East-West Solution (NEEWS)
Greater Springfield Reliability Project (GSRP)
Project Description
Construction Updates Summary
Public Involvement -
Connecticut
Public Involvement -
Massachusetts
Archived Documents -
Connecticut
Archived Documents -
Massachusetts
Contact Info
Interstate Reliability Project (Interstate)
Central Connecticut Reliability Project (Central)
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 Greater Springfield Reliability Project (GSRP)
Project to improve reliability, ease transmission bottlenecks
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| Click Map to Enlarge |
Today, in the greater Springfield and north-central Connecticut areas, the electric system can become overloaded even during normal operating conditions with all lines in service. The Greater Springfield Reliability Project is designed to address these transmission system reliability problems and meet more stringent federal and regional reliability standards.
The Greater Springfield Reliability Project is one of four major transmission projects that are part of the New England East-West Solution (NEEWS).
Project Route, Regulatory Review and Timing
The locations of the new and reconstructed transmission lines are shown on the above map.
The route will pass through Bloomfield, East Granby and Suffield, Connecticut, and will pass through Agawam, Chicopee, Ludlow, Springfield, and West Springfield, Massachusetts. The project’s new lines will be located in existing utility rights-of-way, most of which are currently occupied by one or more overhead lines.
Applications/petitions for the project were filed with the Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) and the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB), respectively. The filings were made in late October 2008, following a period of Municipal Consultation and Public Open Houses.
On March 16, 2010, the CSC voted to approve CL&P's application for the Greater Springfield Reliability Project. The EFSB issued its Final Decision  (1.8MB) on September 28, 2010, on the Massachusetts portion of the Greater Springfield Reliability Project, approving the Western Massachusetts Electric Company's petition to construct the project, subject to conditions.
Construction started in Massachusetts on December 7, 2010.
Fact Sheet: Greater Springfield Reliability Project
| Length: |
39 corridor miles of new and reconstructed transmission lines:
- 23 miles of new 345-kilovolt (kV) overhead lines, with some reconstructed 115-kV overhead lines, within the same existing or expanded right-of-way in Massachusetts
- Four miles of new and reconstructed 115-kV overhead lines within other existing rights-of-way in Massachusetts
- 12 miles of new 345-kV overhead lines in Connecticut within existing rights-of-way
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| States: |
Connecticut and Massachusetts |
Towns along
right-of-way: |
Eight (three in Connecticut, five in Massachusetts)
- Connecticut towns: Bloomfield, East Granby, Suffield
- Massachusetts towns: Agawam, Chicopee, Ludlow, Springfield, West Springfield
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| Substations: |
Three major substation upgrades (two in Massachusetts, one in Connecticut); work on five other substations in Massachusetts |
| Switching stations: |
Two new switching stations in Massachusetts; work on two other switching stations in Massachusetts |
| Estimated project cost: |
$718 million |
| Siting applications/petitions: |
- October 2008 - filed with state siting agencies
- March 2010 - siting approval received in Connecticut
- September 2010 - siting approval received in Massachusetts
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Estimated construction
start date: |
- Early December 2010: start date at Agawam Substation in Agawam, Massachusetts, and at Cadwell Switching Station in Springfield, Massachusetts
- Early 2011: start of overhead transmission line construction in Massachusetts
- Mid-2011: start date at North Bloomfield Substation in Bloomfield, Connecticut
- Late 2011: start of overhead transmission line construction in Connecticut
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Estimated
in-service date: |
late 2013 |
Communications and Public Outreach
Beginning with the Municipal Consultation and community outreach efforts related to the Greater Springfield Reliability Project, Northeast Utilities has made a concerted effort to engage town officials, residents, businesses and other stakeholders to inform, answer questions and listen to concerns about the project.
As work proceeds into and throughout construction, we will continue these outreach efforts. For more information on our community outreach and other public involvement opportunities in Connecticut and Massachusetts, please see the Public Involvement – Connecticut and Public Involvement – Massachusetts pages. The Public Involvement - Connecticut page includes information about our Development & Management (D&M) process.
Construction Updates
Early December 2010: Construction started at the new Cadwell Switching Station in Springfield, Massachusetts, and Agawam Substation in Agawam, Massachusetts. Early February 2011: Overhead transmission line construction started in Massachusetts. In Connecticut, construction began at the existing North Bloomfield Substation in Bloomfield, Connecticut, in July 2011, and construction of the overhead line in Connecticut began in early October 2011. As construction progresses, visit this website for timely updates for construction activities in your area.
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