BGE Expanding Cockeys Mill Road Substation

Work is underway at BGE’s Northwest Substation so that the company can meet future electricity demands, officials said.

“If we do not make adjustments to the area and improvements to the system there, we will not be able to meet the reliability needs of this area by 2012," said Rob Gould, BGE spokesman. “It’s all about the reliability of the BGE system.”

The Northwest Substation is expanding by about six acres. Of the 92 acres on the site, which BGE purchased in 1959, 30 will remain in their natural state, Gould said.

Officials from BGE gave a presentation at the Reistertown-Owings Mills-Glyndon Coordinating Council (ROG) meeting last night. Gould and other officials explained that this project is to stay in line with federal regulations and is endorsed by PJM, the regional operator of the power grid.

“BGE and PJM look as far as 15 years into the future,” Gould said. “PJM has anticipated that there is going to be an increased demand in this area over the next few years.”

BGE began grading work and site preparation this past summer and began constructing electrical equipment this past fall. This spring, deliveries of large equipment will be complete and the substation will initially be energized. The project is expected to wrap up by fall 2012, Gould said.

Community officials at the ROG meeting were concerned about traffic on Cockeys Mill Road as well as mud that is running from the substation onto the road during construction.

BGE officials said that once the station is complete, it will not be manned, so there will not be extra traffic. The access road will also be paved with gravel shoulders, and the company is working with Baltimore County on landscaping solutions.

Milton Branson, who handles local government affairs for BGE, said the company is looking into temporary solutions for the mud problem in the meantime, and may be able to wash the road when the weather gets warmer.

“We’re making every effort to try to keep it clean,” Branson said. “We are aware of it.”

BGE also briefly discussed the , which will be built on Kemp Road on the property formerly known as Camp Holiday. This project, which is in the design phase, is also in anticipation of future demands.