Evidentiary Hearing: April 15th, 2025
The April 16, 2025 evidentiary hearing has been canceled.
The Siting Board held an evidentiary hearing on April 15, 2025 in the above-referenced matter.
Hearings will be held virtually via Zoom and held from 09:00 AM and conclude no later than 4:00 PM.
Video recordings of the hearings can be accessed at the DPU YouTube channel.
Public Comment Hearing
The Department conducted a public comment hearing with both in-person and remote participation options: 6:30 P.M., Thursday, September 26, 2024
In-person hearing location: Old Rochester Regional High School Auditorium, 135 Marion Rd, Mattapoisett, MA 02739.
Note: This public comment hearing has concluded and is now available for view on the Department's YouTube Channel. Simultaneous Portuguese interpretation was also provided with the translated livestream also available on the Department's YouTube Channel.
The Department also invited written comments on the Petition. Written comments will be most useful to the Department if submitted by Thursday, October 10, 2024.
At the public comment hearing, the Company presented an overview of the Project. Public officials and members of the public will have an opportunity to ask questions and make comments about the Project.
The Department will review the Petition to determine (1) whether the Project is necessary, serves the public convenience, and is consistent with the public interest under G.L. c. 164, § 72; and (2) whether the zoning exemptions should be granted, and if the proposed use of the Parcel is reasonably necessary for the convenience or welfare of the public, pursuant to G.L. c. 40A, § 3.
The full notice is available in English, & Portuguese.
Intervention and Participation
Persons or groups who wish to be involved in the Department proceeding, beyond providing comments at the public comment hearing or submitting written comments, may seek either to intervene as a party or to participate as a limited participant. A petition to intervene or participate must be filed no later than Thursday, October 10, 2024, and follow the instructions provided below in Filing Instructions.
“Intervenor” of “Party” Status: An intervenor can participate fully in the evidentiary phase of the proceeding, including the right to participate in evidentiary hearings, file a brief, and appeal the final order.
“Limited participant” status: A limited participant receives documents during the proceeding and may file a brief.
A petition to intervene must demonstrate that the petitioner may be substantially and specifically affected by this proceeding. See below for filing instructions.
For additional information on the Department’s procedural rules, please see the following link.
Project Information
The New Line Extension is approximately three miles in length and extends easterly on existing Eversource ROW 142 from the Mendall Road Tap in Acushnet to the Crystal Spring Substation in Mattapoisett. The New Line Extension will span Mendall Road in Acushnet and Long Plain Road, Tinkham Lane, Crystal Spring Road and an access drive extending from Hereford Hill Road to a municipal pumping station in Mattapoisett.
The New Line Extension will be a single circuit installed on approximately 26 new weathering steel structures consisting predominantly of H-frame structures. One three-pole structure and a single monopole will replace the existing H-frame structures outside of Crystal Spring Substation. For its entire length, the New Line Extension will parallel Line 114, an existing 115 kV transmission line located on ROW 142.
The existing fenced area of the Crystal Spring Substation is 8,300 square feet. To accommodate the New Line Extension, the Substation will be expanded by approximately 36,700 square feet, resulting in a Substation footprint of approximately 45,000 square feet.
The following equipment will be installed inside the expanded fence line of the Substation: two 115 kV dead-end A-frame structures, 65 feet high; six 115 kV transformers; one 115 kV bus section; a chain-link fence; control cable, grounding, 115 kV leads and taps; two 115 kV circuit switchers; two 37/50/62.5 MVA, 115/13.2 kV transformers (one of which replaces the existing transformer); two enclosed 13.2 kV series reactors; two 150 kVA station service transformers; underground connections; one medium voltage switchgear enclosure; one 115 kV disconnect switch and two 115 kV line disconnect switches; two 13.2 kV capacitor banks; and four shielding masts, each 65 feet in height.
The Company states that the Project is needed for the Company to maintain a reliable electric power system and to enable distributed generation facilities to safely interconnect and operate.
All filings under this docket can be found in the DPU Fileroom.
Public Review of Company's Petitions
In addition, electronic copies of the Petition and attachments have been provided to the Town Clerks of the Towns of Acushnet and Mattapoisett. The Company also maintains a webpage for the Project.
Hard copies of the Company’s petitions, including all attachments, are available for public inspection at the following locations:
- Department of Public Utilities, One South Station, 3rd floor, Boston, MA 02110
- Town Clerk, Town of Mattapoisett, 16 Main St, Mattapoisett, MA 02739
- Town Clerk, Town of Acushnet, 22 Main St, Acushnet, MA 02743
- Mattapoisett Library, 7 Barstow St, Mattapoisett, MA 02739
- Acushnet Public Library, 232 Middle Rd, Acushnet, MA 02743
The figure above shows the route for the New Line Extension and the location of the Crystal Spring Substation.
The figure above shows the footprints of the existing Crystal Spring Substation and the Substation Expansion.
Project Filing with EFSB
All documents related filed in relation to a proceeding are posted to the DPU Fileroom. The Fileroom page for a proceeding represents the official record for that proceeding. The public can access the Fileroom page for this proceeding at the following link:
Accommodation Requests
Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities (e.g., Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format) are available upon request. To submit a request for an accommodation, please email ADA Coordinator Melixza Esenyie, eeadiversity@mass.gov, 617-626-1282. In your communication, please include a description of the request in as much detail as possible and a way we can contact you if we need more information. Please allow at least one week (7 days) advance notice. Last minute requests will be accepted but we may be unable to fulfill the request.
Portuguese interpretation services will be provided for the public comment hearing. Additional interpretation services are available upon request. Include in your request the language required and a way to contact you if we need more information. Requests may be made by September 19, 2024. It may not be possible to accommodate last-minute requests. Contact the Hearing Officer (contact information below).
Non-Discrimination Notice
The Department complies with applicable state and federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, creed, national origin (including limited English proficiency), gender identity, income, class, disability, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, genetic information, ancestry, or status as a veteran. The Department does not exclude people or treat them differently because of sex, race, color, religion, creed, national origin (including limited English proficiency), gender identity, income, class, disability, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, genetic information, ancestry, or status as a veteran. See the Department’s Non-Discrimination Notice.
If you have any questions about this notice or any of the Department’s non-discrimination programs, policies or procedures, you may contact:
Melixza G. Esenyie
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
100 Cambridge Street
Boston, MA 02114
617-626-1282
If you believe that you have been discriminated against with respect to a Department program or activity, you may contact Melixza G. Esenyie, Non-Discrimination Coordinator, identified above, to learn how and where to file a complaint of discrimination.
Contact
For further information about the proceeding, please contact the Hearing Officer at the address or telephone number below:
Donna Sharkey, Hearing Officer
Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
One South Station
Boston, MA 02110
617-305-3625
donna.sharkey@mass.gov