New PSEG Substation To Be Sited Away From Parkland, Residences

MONTAUK, NY — A new PSEG Long Island substation will be located away from parkland and residences, East Hampton Town officials said.

According to a release from East Hampton Town, PSEG "will abandon a proposed substation site in Hither Woods, near Paumanok Path," and build in industrial area of Shore Road

During a conference call on Monday, East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc told PSEG Long Island officials that a proposed site in Hither Woods near the East Hampton Town landfill was unsuitable for a utility substation, and secured their agreement to locate the substation in an industrial area, he said.

Van Scoyoc said he urged PSEG to engage in an open dialogue with the community and undertake a transparent process to find a suitable site for the new substation, which is needed to increase electrical reliability and resilience in Montauk.

The location of the current substation on Fort Pond is undesirable for both environmental and resiliency reasons, Von Scoyoc said. The area is in a floodplain, an area where the town’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan recommends against siting infrastructure, and the supervisor asked PSEG to try to relocate to higher ground.

PSEG’s attempt to find another substation location led, after a lengthy review process, to a parcel on Shore Road at a higher elevation than the current site.

PSEG analyzed approximately a dozen vacant properties, including some brought to their attention by members of the community, but few remained viable possibilities, in terms of size, proximity to electrical infrastructure, land-use designation, or other considerations such as the presence of wetlands, the supervisor said.

After PSEG presented alternatives at a public forum, community members rejected PSEG’s preferred site on Flamingo Road — and a large number recommended assessing property near the landfill, Van Scoyoc said. However, the area is designated as parkland, and using it for a substation would require the approval of both the county and state legislatures for parkland “alienation” in order to locate a substation there, he said.

“I cannot support the alienation of parkland near the Paumanok Path. Like so many residents who have written to me to oppose the industrialization of this area, I want to see this area remain pristine and protected,” Van Scoyoc said.

To better protect the electrical substation infrastructure on the Shore Road site, which is adjacent to the location of an energy storage battery facility, PSEG Long Island will raise the level of both the substation equipment and of the road, and install drainage structures, which will alleviate persistent flooding problems in the vicinity. In addition, they will screen the equipment from sight, the town said.

The original substation on Fort Pond will be dismantled, and PSEG will work with the town on restoring the site and allowing for appropriate community use of the waterfront lot, such as allowing pond access.

“I applaud PSEG Long Island for responding to my request to engage with the community and work cooperatively to find an acceptable location for the electrical infrastructure needed in Montauk,” Van Scoyoc said.

"PSEG Long Island worked with the town’s supervisor and leaders, listened to the concerns of the community and is pleased to have found an agreed upon location that will support the energy requirements of Montauk," said Elizabeth Flagler, head of external communications for PSEG Long Island.