Hertel–New York Interconnection
PUBLIC CONSULTATION • May 2013
Project description
Hydro-Québec TransÉnergie has asked Hydro-Québec Équipement et services partagés to carry out a draft-design study for the construction of an approximately 50-km long, 320-kV underground direct- current (DC) line between Hertel substation (in La Prairie) and the U.S. border (near Lac Champlain).
The project also includes a converter at Hertel substation, which will convert alternating current to direct current to supply the new interconnection.
On the U.S. side, the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) project will supply New York City with energy coming from Canada. The project includes plans to build an underground and underwater DC line between the Canada–U.S. border and New York City, spanning some 530 km. ■■ What is direct current? Hertel substation converter
Direct current is unidirectional, which means The project includes the installation of a converter at Hertel the electrons always move in the same substation, on Hydro-Québec property. direction. A good example is a battery, where It will convert alternating current to direct current, which will a chemical reaction triggers a movement of flow directly to New York through the underground line. electrons in one direction inside the conductor: 2 from the negative to the positive terminal The conversion equipment will be installed in a new 6,000 m building located in the planned expansion area of the battery. In alternating current, by compa rison, the electrons move back and forth. The conventional switchgear needed to connect the converter to the 735-kV system will be erected within the existing ■■ Why a direct-current line? substation and planned expansion area.
The technology used to transmit direct current is not the most common. However, in projects such as this one, it can be advantageous for transmitting power over long distances and for connecting systems that aren’t synchronized, for example connecting the Québec power Planned Chemin Lafrenière system with grids in the U.S. expansion zone
■■ Why an underground line? Hertel substation At Hydro-Québec, environmental, social, technical and economic criteria are taken into consideration in all studies for generation CN Railway and transmission projects. In the case of transmission projects, once all these aspects
are factored in, the decision is usually in favor 0 200 m of the construction of overhead lines. 7331_bu_hq_016_ic_agran_130429a.mxd
In the case of the Hertel–New York intercon nection, however, the geological conditions of the study area, combined with the technology chosen and its reasonable cost, allow the simple undergrounding of the line over a long distance, without the addition of other electrical equipment on the surface.
Project Web site: www.hydroquebec.com/hertel-new-york/en
2 Technical characteristics
The line will consist of two cables, each 115 mm (4.5 in.) in diameter, buried directly in a trench about 1 m wide and 1.5 m deep.
The trench will be covered with a concrete slab, and above that, two warning tapes will be laid all along the trench
To ensure communication between Hertel substation and the New York facilities, a fibre-optic cable will run alongside the power cables.
A 4-m wide right-of-way is needed to operate the line. Once the line is commissioned, traffic can resume in the right-of-way and farmland can be cultivated again.
Typical excavation
0.9 m Slope depending Backfill in on type of soil accordance with environment 1.5 m Warning tape 0.9 m Concrete slab Fine sand Optical fibre Power cable Stone bed 0.9 m 7331_bu_hq_015_coupetype_130423.ai
3 Study area Line route development
Hydro-Québec has delineated a study In an underground line project, although environmental area in which to develop potential line considerations are always taken into account, the line routes, and has conducted general analyses routing criteria have mainly to do with technical factors (underground space, presence of other infrastructure, and inventories within that area. clearance, etc.). The environmental impacts are mostly With a surface area of 793 km2, the study related to the construction work. area stretches north to Hertel substation, In developing the potential routes, Hydro-Québec applied west to just past Highway 15, south to the following criteria: the U.S. border and east to the Rivière Richelieu (which is excluded). It crosses • Run the line along an existing linear axis (road, railway, etc.) the territories of three regional county to limit impacts on property municipalities (MRCs): Roussillon, • Ensure easy access to the jobsite to reduce inconvenience Le Haut-Richelieu and Les Jardins-de- Napierville. • Preserve woodlands wherever possible
Most of the study area is on private • Limit the impacts of construction on local residents property. Because of the exceptional climatic conditions and highly arable soil, Using the technical and economic criteria and taking over 75% of the study area is farmland. into account the preliminary results of the environmental inventories, Hydro-Québec studied several potential line Except for the urban perimeters, the routes. One route stands out among all those considered. entire study area is on protected From Hertel substation, the route runs south along an agricultural lands. existing 735-kV line right-of-way until it meets Highway 15.
Two options are then possible: • In Variant 1, the line continues south alongside Highway 15 1 for 31 km, up to Exit 6. Then it runs along the Highway 202 right-of-way up to the junction with Highway 221, where it turns south again and runs along that highway down to the U.S. border.
• In Route Variant 2, the line continues south alongside 2 Highway 15 for 36 km, up to Exit 1. There it turns east and runs along Montée Guay in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle and Lacolle, ending at the U.S. border. The exact crossover point remains to be determined
In addition to avoiding all urban cores, this route offers easy access for construction work and would have only a low impact on agricultural operations. More detailed environmental inventories and engineering work will make it possible to round out the evaluation of this route and to determine which of the variants to select.
4 # # # Project overview
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5 (Lake Champlain) 4 4 New York 7331_bu_tem_010_info_consult_130507a.mxd NEW YORK Rouses Point VERMONT 0 50 km 73°20' 73°10' 73°30' Champlain Document for information purposes only. For any other use, please contact Géomatique at Hydro-Québec Équipement et services partagés. 5 Next stages
Hydro-Québec is conducting detailed invento ries (wetland characterization, archaeological potential, etc.) along the line route and options under study, in order to gain a thorough knowledge of all the elements making up the biophysical and human environments.
Using these inventories, Hydro-Québec will be able to optimize the route as needed and develop specific mitigation measures adapted to the project context.
Mitigation measures
Depending on the route selected, Hydro- Québec will implement all the mitigation measures needed to reduce the negative impacts to a minimum.
For example, during construction, Hydro- Québec will apply measures to ensure the smooth flow of traffic while protecting workers and the public. In addition, the construction methods used to bury the cables will be adapted for stream crossings.
For the planned work at Hertel substation, exhaustive inventories—along with specific studies such as noise studies—will be used to measure the project impacts and to apply effective mitigation measures wherever necessary.
6 Public participation
Hydro-Québec is implementing a public participation program designed to maintain a dialog with the affected communities for the duration of the draft-design studies. Through this program, the company hopes to inform people about the project, respond to questions and note all concerns.
This will enable the company to take into account the concerns expressed by the community and thus ensure the best possible integration of the project into the host environment.
Once the public consultation is over and the potential route has been improved, Hydro-Québec will announce the solution selected.
The company will then file an environmental impact statement with the Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement, de la Faune et des Parcs in order to obtain the necessary permits.
Excavating a power cable trench along a roadway
7 Calendrier
DRAFT DESIGN
Public information and consultation Spring 2013
Information on the route selected Fall 2013
PROJECT
Permitting Spring 2014–summer 2015
Construction Fall 2015–fall 2017
Commissioning Fall 2017
For more information
Info-project line 1 877 653-1139
Project Web site: Hélène Perrault www.hydroquebec.com/hertel-new-york/en Advisor – Community Relations – Richelieu Direction – Affaires régionales et collectivités 4825, avenue Pinard Project e-mail address: Saint-Hyacinthe QC [email protected] J2S 8S7
www.hydroforthefuture.com www.hydroquebec.com
Printed on paper made in Québec from 2013E0513-A 100% postconsumer recycled fibre.
Ce document est également publié en français. This document is a translation of the original French.