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Our quarterly newsletter captures project spotlights, conferences and events attended, and recent staff updates.
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ISSUE NO. 14 / March 2016
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There has been a lot going on in the energy sector and Epsilon has been busy assisting with many new and expanded energy projects. Highlighted below are a few of these projects.
Line 139 Energized
To accommodate the growing need for energy on Cape Cod, Eversource has installed a new 7.8-mile 115 kV line-number 139-running between Barnstable Switching Station in Barnstable and the Harwich Tap in Dennis. Line 139 both reinforces and improves the reliability of Eversource's transmission system that supplies power to the area from Yarmouth to Provincetown, and the Island of Nantucket.
Epsilon provided environmental consulting support for the project, which included leading the local, state and federal environmental permitting and licensing processes. Epsilon was also responsible for supervising the wetland delineation work, rare species investigations, and archaeological and cultural resources investigations. In addition, Epsilon provided assistance with the survey and right-of-way retracement work.
The line was successfully built and energized in December 2015.
Summary of Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Kevin Casutto Recommended Decision on Article VII Application for Cricket Valley Energy 345 kV Transmission Line
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Proposed transmission corridor.
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On January 11, 2016, ALJ Kevin Casutto issued a "Recommended Decision" on the Article VII Application of Cricket Valley Energy Center, LLC, for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need under Article VII of the New York Public Law. The decision represented approval of Cricket Valley's proposed 345 kV transmission line project.
The Cricket Valley project involves 14.6 miles of new overhead transmission line along an existing Con Edison right-of-way from the Cricket Valley proposed 1,000 MW electric generating facility in Dover, NY to the Con Edison substation in Pleasant Valley, NY. The project also involves 3.4 miles of new transmission conductors from the Cricket Valley Energy Center in Dover east to the Connecticut state line, where it will connect with an existing Eversource 345 kV transmission line. In his decision, Judge Casutto found that the Cricket Valley proposed transmission project will serve the public interest, convenience and necessity, and that it satisfies the required statutory findings under Article VII of the New York State Public Service Law.
Specifically, Judge Casutto recommended that the Public Service Commission approve the Article VII Application of Cricket Valley Energy Center, LLC and grant to the Applicant a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need for the project.
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The Hub on Causeway Breaks Ground
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| The Hub on Causeway project; previously permitted as the Boston Garden. |
On January 27, 2016,
Mayor Walsh, representatives from developers Delaware North and Boston Properties, and others attended the ground breaking for the "Hub on Causeway." Located on the old Boston Garden site along Causeway Street, the Hub on Causeway, is a mixed-use development that will include retail shops, restaurants, offices, a hotel, and residences, as well as an expansion of the TD Garden and transit improvements to North Station.
Epsilon prepared the Expanded Project Notification Form and Supplemental Information Document for submittal to the Boston Redevelopment Authority, as well as an Environmental Notification Form, Draft Environmental Impact Report and Final Environmental Impact Report in compliance with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act. Epsilon also provided historic consulting services, coordinating the review of the project by the Massachusetts Historical Commission.
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 Where We've Been (And Where We're Going)
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Highlighted below are some of the events we attended throughout the winter.
Principal Steve Slocomb spoke at this year's annual Energy, Utility & Environment Conference (EUEC) 2016, which was held in early February in San Diego, California. His presentation, "A Tale of Two Winters," described the winter of 2014 in New England, how ISO-NE responded, and the impacts on energy use seen during the winter of 2015.
Our upcoming events include:
AWEA Wind Project Siting and Environmental Compliance Conference 2016
| March 22-23, 2016 | More Info
Epsilon poster presenter: Richard Lampeter; Epsilon attendee: Rob O'Neal
IPPNY Spring Conference
| May 10-11, 2016 | More Info
Epsilon exhibiting at event
NECA/CPES 23rd Annual New England Energy Conference and Exposition
| May 10-11, 2016 | More Info
Epsilon exhibiting at event
AWEA WINDPOWER
| May 23-26, 2016 | More Info
Epsilon exhibiting at event
Click
here
to learn more about these and other upcoming events.
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What's New At Epsilon
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At the start of the year, Epsilon welcomed two new employees -
Geoffrey Melhuish
and
Alyssa Mathews
. Geoff has joined our Historic Preservation group as a Senior Preservation Planner. He has a wealth of experience in the historic preservation field, having led numerous historic rehabilitation projects and many historic property surveys across New England. Alyssa joined the Air Quality group as a Junior Meteorologist. She recently graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with an M.S. in Environmental Science. Prior to that she earned her B.S. in Atmospheric Science from SUNY Stony Brook.
 Epsilon is pleased share that Senior Scientist Joe Sabato has earned the nationally recognized Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM) designation by the American Meteorological Society. The CCM designation is issued by the society to highly qualified meteorologists providing research and services to a wide variety of users of weather information. Check out the full write up for more details.
In addition, Epsilon is happy to announce that our Accountant Lyn Fisher recently graduated from Clark University with a Master of Science Degree in Accounting.
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