National Grid told New York regulators that it proposes to extend two 115-kV transmission lines to provide a dual supply to the new Ohio Street substation proposed to be built and located on a parcel of land owned by National Grid within the city of Buffalo.
Currently, the Gardenville-Buffalo River 115-kV 146 transmission line (Line 146) is a 9.64-mile, 115-kV line originating at the Gardenville substation in West Seneca, N.Y., and terminating at the Buffalo River Switch structure, SW273 and routed through West Seneca, Hamburg, and Buffalo in New York.
The company added in its Part 102 Report filed with the New York State Public Service Commission that the Gardenville-Buffalo River 115-kV 145 line (Line 145) is also a 9.64-mile, 115-kV line, also originating at the Gardenville substation and terminating at the Buffalo River Switch structure, SW271.
The Gardenville-Buffalo River 145 and 146 Lines, built in the 1960s, are primarily – except for a 0.1-mile portion of Line 146 – double-circuited and supported by steel lattice towers. The company added that the 0.1-mile section where it is not double-circuited consists of wood H-frame construction.
In addition, the company noted that the Advanced Metal Casting facility is currently served by a tap – the AirCo-Buffalo River 115-kV line 147 (Line 147) transmission line – that originates from the line 147 that serves the AirCo substation and continuing to the Advanced Metal Casting station.
The 147 line is a 0.7-mile line built in 1970 and originates at the Buffalo River Switch structures SW#271 and SW#273, located in Buffalo, crosses the Buffalo River, and terminates at the AirCo substation in Buffalo. That line is primarily wood H-frame construction, the company added.
The approximate 0.5-mile Advanced Metal Casting Tap 115-kV line 147 originates at structure 8 off the AirCo-Buffalo River 115-kV 147 line and continues to the Advanced Metals Casting station. That 0.5-mile tap line was built in 1975 and is primarily wood H-frame construction, the company added.
The project includes the rebuild of a small portion – about 0.5 miles from structure 10 to structure 5) of Line 147 which, when combined with the extension of Line 145 from Buffalo River Switch 271, will collectively be renamed and referred to as the Gardenville-Ohio Street #145 115-kV transmission line (145 Line) and will supply the Ohio Street substation.
The company added that as part of the project, Line 146 will also be extended from Buffalo River Switch SW 273 to the Ohio Street substation, with that new line to serve the AirCo facility, Advanced Metals Casting facility, and connect to the Ohio Street station. Once built, Line 146 will be renamed and referred to as the Gardenville-Ohio St #146 115-kV transmission line (146 Line).
The Ohio Street substation is a proposed new substation designed to support the South Buffalo Brownfield Opportunity Area, National Grid added, noting that the substation is located in the vicinity of the existing Ohio Switch Structure.
As part of the project, the company said that it proposes to replace seven existing structures and install a new structure, along with associated new conductor and shieldwire on Line 145. Also, National Grid said that it proposes to install eight new structures and one replacement structure on Line 146, along with associated new conductor and shieldwire.
The project activities will take place within existing managed right of way (ROW), which is a combination of fee and easement property rights currently held by National Grid.
The replacement structures on the proposed Lines 145 and 146 will consist of 2- and 3-pole wood H-frames and will be direct-embedded in approximate 10-foot-deep augured holes, the company added.
