Town Asks For Review Of Wind Farm Onshore Transmission Line Cable

EAST HAMPTON, NY — East Hampton Town officials have called on the New York State Public Service Commission to undertake a "thorough review" of Deepwater Wind's South Fork wind farm's proposed onshore transmission line cable project.

East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc, at a June 11 Public Service Commission hearing, said the impacts to wildlife, commercial and recreational fishing, public lands, safety, traffic and aesthetics must be examined.

The New York State Public Service Commission, the town said, "has jurisdiction over an application by Deepwater Wind to land a submarine electrical export cable from 15 planned offshore wind turbines at a point in East Hampton, and to install cable running from the landing point to an electrical substation on Cove Hollow Road in East Hampton."

Town officials issued a statement detailing areas of concern they believe the Commission should evaluate before deciding whether to issue a permit.

Deepwater Wind, now owned by Orsted, has proposed a 15-turbine wind energy farm in federal waters 35 miles east of Montauk Point.

Under federal and state laws, environmental review for the offshore wind turbine project will be conducted, on the federal level for the offshore turbines and infrastructure, by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; and by the state Public Service Commission for the portion of the project within state territorial waters and on land, town officials said.

While the review process and decision-making is in the hands of the federal and state agencies, the town has filed to obtain status as a party to both review procedures, and will be participating in order to protect the interests of East Hampton Town residents, Van Scoyoc said.

"The Town of East Hampton is uniquely committed to renewable energy production. Recognizing the impact that reliance on fossil fuels has on climate change and sea level rise, the town has adopted a goal of meeting 100% of community-wide electricity consumption by 2020 with renewable energy sources and all other energy sectors offset by 2030," Van Scoyoc said.

The town board, he added, also recognizes that they are “stewards of the environment,” and
are committed to ensuring that potential adverse environmental impacts of new projects
in and affecting the town, "including renewable energy proposals such as Deepwater Wind,"
are evaluated and mitigated.

According to Van Scoyoc in his statement, the Deepwater Wind project, which, within the jurisdictional area of the Public Service Commission, will include the installation and maintenance of a 138-kilovolt submarine export cable between the boundary of New York State’s territorial waters and a sea-to-shore transition vault located at either Beach Lane in Wainscott or Hither Hills State Park, and an additional 138-kilovolt terrestrial export cable, running beneath town roads, to connect that transition vault to an interconnection facility at the East Hampton substation.

The cables "will have numerous impacts on East Hampton’s complex and distinctive maritime and terrestrial environment, which underpins the town’s unique 'sense of place,'" the supervisor said.

However, because actions such as Deepwater Wind that require a certificate of
environmental compatibility and public need under Article VII of the Public Service Law are
expressly made not subject to environmental impact review under the State Environmental
Quality Review Act, Van Scoyoc said, "the only environmental impact review that Deepwater Wind will receive will be during the Public Service Law Article VII application review process and, with respect to areas outside the state’s territorial waters, the ongoing environmental impact review that the United States Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is conducting under federal environmental laws."

That's why, he said, the town sought to obtain “party” status in the process, so that it could participate, "as fully as possible, in the PSC’s required evaluation of the 'environmental compatibility' of the project."

Among the issues the town is looking to see fully evaluated by both BOEM and the Public Service
Commission are "the impacts of installation, operation, maintenance, and ultimate
decommissioning of Deepwater Wind and its cable and other transmission facilities, as well as
the electrical currents that will pass through such facilities," Van Scoyoc said.

Specifically, the impacts must be weighed on sea life, commercial and recreational facilities in the area, the use of public beaches by residents and visitors, public health and safety, traffic, and aesthetics, the town said.

"We are particularly concerned — for both aesthetic and public safety reasons — that the
Deepwater Wind cables and other facilities will be placed and remain fully buried and out of
sight of, or contact with, town residents and visitors," he said.

Van Scoyoc also said the town board has not, to date, signed any agreements with the
Deepwater Wind applicants or conveyed any interest in town roads, the Beach Lane public beach, or any other town properties. "We will do so only if and when we deem such agreements and commitments to be in the best interests of the town, its residents and property owners, and our cherished town environment," he said.

Members of the public may also submit comments to the Public Service Commission through July 12, referencing Case Number 18-T-0604, by emailig secretary@dps.ny.gov; by leaving a phone message at 1-800-335-2120; or through the PSC Department website at www.dps.ny.gov, where those interested may also subscribe to a notification list or can request party status to participate in discovery, testimony, evidentiary hearings, procedural conferences, and other events, town officials said.