The Connecticut Siting Council by a 9-0 vote tonight approved a controversial 69-mile power line between Middletown and Norwalk. It includes a 5.5 mile underground portion running through Westport, mostly along the Post Road.
The panel found that the line will “improve system reliability by enhancing interconnections between southwest Connecticut (a 54-town area) and the remainder of New England,” a statement said.
The Council said its approval would also eliminate generation restrictions, short circuit problems at substations, and almost all violations of national and regional standards regarding thermal overloads.
“This means that the project will significantly improve the reliability of service in the highly-congested load pocket of Fairfield County and its surrounding area,” the Council said.
Connecticut Light & Power Co. and United Illuminating Co. sought approval of the line to improve an aging and congested power system, which is responsible for higher consumer rates.
Opponents to the proposal included officials from many of the 18 cities and towns where the line will run through. They expressed concern about possible health risks due to the electric and magnetic fields that will be emitted by the line.
CL&P and United Illuminating have said there is no scientific basis for those claims.
The line was the subject of a number of public hearings, including ones in Westport at which alternate routes from the original were discussed. (See WestportNow Sept. 3, 2003)
The Siting Council had already approved the first phase of the project, a 20-mile line from Bethel to Norwalk. Twelve miles of that cable will be buried underground.
In the new project, the existing 115-kilovolt lines will be replaced with 345-kilovolt wires.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell said she wishes more of the line could be buried underground, but believes the project is important for Southwest Connecticut.
“That region is an economic powerhouse, the home to the majority of our population and many of our largest corporate citizens,” she said.
…“Opponents to the proposal included officials from many of the 18 cities and towns where the line will run through. They expressed concern about possible health risks due to the electric and magnetic fields that will be emitted by the line.
CL&P and United Illuminating have said there is no scientific basis for those claims.” This was form an article April 7, 2005. Does anyone remember hearing about a “power line cluster” of heath problems ever reported? I thought I had heard of something like this…maybe an urban legend?? Please post a comment regarding any findings you may have! I am a bit concerned about the risk…it is near several schools in Westport too! Thanks! JD, Westport