New England East-West Solution (NEEWS)

Greater Springfield Reliability Project (GSRP)
Project Description
Public Involvement -
    Connecticut
Public Involvement -
    Massachusetts
Contact Information

Interstate Reliability Project (Interstate)

Central Connecticut Reliability Project (CCRP)

Public Involvement - Massachusetts

Massachusetts Energy Facility Siting Board and Department of Public Utilities Petitions
Public Meetings/Hearings
Open Houses
Archived Documents

Energy Facility Siting Board and Department of Public Utilities Petitions

On October 27, 2008, Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO) petitioned the Massachusetts Energy Facility Siting Board (EFSB) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities for approval of the construction of the Massachusetts portion of the Greater Springfield Reliability Project (GSRP). The docket number for the EFSB petition is EFSB 08-2. The Department of Public Utilities petitions have docket numbers of DPU 08-105 (Zoning Petition) and DPU 08-106 (Section 72 Petition).

The Greater Springfield Reliability Project (which includes certain segments in Connecticut) involves the construction and operation of new overhead 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission facilities and two new 115-kV switching stations, the modification of existing switching stations and substations, and the re-conductoring and/or re-building of certain existing overhead 115-kV transmission lines in the Massachusetts municipalities of Agawam, Chicopee, Ludlow, Springfield, and West Springfield. The petition also includes an alternate route for the new 345-kV line within the Massachusetts municipalities of Hampden, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow and Wilbraham, as well as other potential 115-kV line alternatives.

Please note that volumes containing photographs are quite large and may take a considerable amount of time to download if you are using a 28K or 56K modem.

Energy Facilities Siting Board Petition

• GSRP EFSB Section 1 to 5.3. (81MB)
• GSRP EFSB Section 5.3 to 9. (494MB)
• GSRP EFSB Aerial 400 scale (43MB)
• GSRP EFSB Cross Sections (22MB)

Department of Public Utilities Petitions

• Zoning Petition
  • Zoning Petition (4MB)
  • Zoning Petition Appendices (1.5MB)


• Section 72 Petition
  • Cover letter dated October 27, 2008 (184KB)
  • Section 72 Petition (779KB)
  • Appendix A Section 72 Checklist (205KB)
  • Appendix C Greater Springfield Reliability Project List of Permits (260KB)
  • Appendix D Draft Notice  (1.2MB)

Public Meetings/Hearings

The next stage in the approval of the Greater Springfield Reliability Project (described above) is under the authority of the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board and Department of Public Utilities. The Massachusetts siting process includes public comment hearings and a legal proceeding designed to protect the rights of all participants. See your town's Web site, local newspaper or town officials for local public hearing schedules. You may also check the Siting Board’s web site.

Open Houses

As part of the community outreach process, WMECO held "open houses" in local municipalities during the Municipal Consultation period ending in September 2008. Open houses provided residents with the opportunity to ask questions and discuss their concerns about the project with subject experts from WMECO. Open houses were held in Agawam, Chicopee, Ludlow, Springfield, and West Springfield. View a brief video [548kbps, 3 mins.] showing a typical NEEWS open house and the wealth of information shared with residents through one-on-one demonstrations, kiosks, route locators, video presentations, brochures and other hand-outs. You still have opportunities to learn about the project and provide feedback through public hearings that are a part of the Energy Facilities Siting Board process.