Public Service Commission

Public Statement Hearing

Informational Forum

August 4, 2014

Project Team

Cricket Valley Energy (CVE)– Developer of Cricket Valley Energy Center, a fully

permitted $1.4 billion natural gas-fueled, high-efficiency, combined-cycle power generation facility in the Town of Dover/Dutchess County

– Subsidiary of Advanced Power, NA Epsilon Associates, Inc.

– Project environmental consultant DiGioia Gray & Associates

– Project engineer Arch Street Communications

– Public information and outreach

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Agenda

Project Overview Location Scope Objectives Design Hypothetical Alternative Route Simulated Views Article VII Review Steps Construction Public Involvement Topics of Interest

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Project Overview

CVE has been required by New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) to increase transmission capacity, redundancy, and operational capabilities by funding and installing a transmission line in the existing 14.6-mile Right-of-Way (ROW) between CVE in Dover and the Con Edison substation in Pleasant Valley. CVE will also reconductor a 3.4-mile segment of the existing transmission line in the same ROW between the CVE substation and the NY-CT state line.

NOT part of any of the following transmission line projects: NY Transco Edic to Pleasant Valley; NEXTERA New Scotland to Pleasant Valley; North American Transmission; or Boundless Energy Transmission.

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Project Location

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Project Scope

Install a new 14.6-mile 345 kV transmission line within the existing Con Edison ROW between CVE in Dover and Con Edison substation in Pleasant Valley

Re-conductor existing line #398 between the Project site the NY/CT border

Upgrade the Pleasant Valley substation (within existing footprint) protection and communication infrastructure

Prioritize local labor for the Project Average 40-60 workers for line construction Approximately 20 worker crew for re-conductoring

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Project Objectives

Ensure the reliability, stability, operability, and transfer limits of the transmission system are maintained with the connection to Cricket Valley Energy Center

Ensure minimal disruption to the environment and neighboring communities by locating the new transmission line inside the existing 250-foot-wide Con Edison ROW

Privately fund the $55 million infrastructure investment

Transfer ownership to Con Edison upon completion

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Project Design

New line: State-of-the-art steel monopoles Delta configuration Generally follows current spacing of existing lattice towers

New conductors: Bundled, “Mallard” Aluminum Conductor Steel-Supported

(ACSS) cables Selected for rating/line capacity, cost, line losses and other

performance factors

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Design Considerations

ROW land-use and environmental-base mapping in accordance with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation policies

Field surveys and time-of-year restrictions for protected and sensitive species

Invasive species, archaeological, and historic surveys

Wetlands delineation with location adjustments to avoid wetlands and other sensitive areas

Community input

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Hypothetical Alternative Route

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Hypothetical Alternative Route

Central Hudson 115 kV

Significant impact to property owners Requires 7 miles of new transmission right-of-way

Significant environmental impacts Swamp River Habitat, natural environment, wetland

Requires 20-mile line vs. 14.6-mile line

Requires 13 miles of expansion of the Central Hudson ROW to accommodate 345 kV line

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Simulated View

12Town of Dover

13Town of LaGrange

Simulated View

14Town of Union Vale

Simulated View

15Town of Pleasant Valley

Simulated View

Simulated View-Taconic Pky

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Article VII Review Steps

December 30, 2013: submission of Article VII application; copies distributed to area libraries

August 4, 2014: Public Statement Hearing in project area

Development of joint proposal: Public Service Commission (PSC) staff with input from interested parties

Recommendations by Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)

PSC Hearing and Determination in Albany

Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need

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Construction

Total expected timeframe for Project completion: 13-24 months

Construction activity for each structure is estimated to last approximately 2 weeks

Pre-Construction Steps: Environmental Management and Construction Plan

approved by Department of Public Service (DPS)

Manage ROW in accordance with Con Edison’s Vegetation Management Plan (VMP)

Finalize survey to identify sensitive areas, clearing areas, and structure locations

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Construction Process

Construction Steps:

Establish laydown/staging areas—one primary area +/- 20 acres; additional storage areas, 2-3 acres each

Place construction matting where required for temporary access across wetlands

Establish structure foundations (rock anchors, rock micro-piles, conventional)

Set structures; install davits, insulators, and stringing blocks; string conductors

Re-grade and restore

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Public Involvement to Date

December 2013 Public/Legal notices, Poughkeepsie Journal Letters to Town Supervisors, County Executive Letters to property owners abutting ROW

March 2014: Launched CricketValleyTransmission.com Published Winter Issue, CVE Update Newsletter, distributed

6785 copies Posted Public Involvement Plan on website Launched email subscription sign up—now more than 350

subscribers

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Public Involvement to Date

May/June 2014: Presentation to Town Boards—Dover, Pleasant Valley,

LaGrange, Union Vale Held 4 public information meetings—Dover, Pleasant Valley,

LaGrange, Union Vale Promoted via website, postcards, press release, posters,

advertisement, posting on town websites

August 2014 Two Advisory Working Groups scheduled:

August 26 - Community Outreach Office,

Dover Plains, NY August 27 - Pleasant Valley Town Hall

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Public Involvement Media

Media outreach: - Hudson Valley Business Journal - Hudson Valley Press - Hudson Valley Reporter - Mid Hudson News - Northern Dutchess News - Southern Dutchess News - Poughkeepsie Journal - Putnam County News - Harlem Valley News - Millbrook Independent - Millerton News - WAMC Radio

Advertisements

- Poughkeepsie Journal

- Northern Dutchess News

- Southern Dutchess News

- The Millbrook Independent

- Hudson Valley News

- PennySaver

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Topics of interest

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Pole Height Reviewing design to reduce height of new monopoles

Electric and Magnetic Field (EMF) Within or below state and federal standards

Underground Transmission Lines Study for this project showed:

– Burying a 345 kV transmission line would have a significant environmental impact

– Blasting would be required– Additional above ground structures would be needed that would

exceed the boundaries of the ROW