cl&p's interstate reliability project

CL&P’s Interstate Reliability Project:

The Potential Effects on Mansfield

Interstate Reliability Project

In an effort to bring a more reliable power source to the state of

Connecticut, CL&P has proposed the Interstate Reliability Project.

The project consists of 8 story, 345 kilovolt power lines running

through Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, with most of the power benefitting southern

CT, in Fairfield County. The power issue is a significant one,

but Mansfield would like to see the lines placed along existing highways so as to not have any

effect on local residents.

Logo property of Connecticut Light & Power

Profit over People and Planet?Both Town Council members and citizens of Mansfield have expressed concerns regarding CL&P’s Interstate Reliability Project. One of the chief fears is that the

345kV transmission lines will have a large impact on local agriculture. Additionally, as a town which boasts a beautiful landscape of trees and countryside, the citizens also fear that the 8 story power lines would create an eyesore where an

expansive canopy once flourished. Just as the above danger sign may appear awkward or unnatural surrounded by woods, so does the idea of power lines

running through the front yard of some residents’ homes, according to “Citizens United,” a local group formed to oppose the project.

Photo by: Robby Hermanns

Mansfield One of the Few Putting Up A FightThough the project will run through a dozen or so towns in Connecticut, Mansfield and Brooklyn are the

only two towns who have opposed the project, because they are the only two towns in which CL&P does not already own the necessary right-of-ways and must therefore go through resident’s properties. The Town

Council has officially taken opposition to the project as it is currently routed. It has been described by Linda Painter as “a highway with no exits,” because the power lines only run

through the northern part of the state; the southern part receives all of the power. Though the town will receive tax revenues from the lines, Painter said she was unsure how much they would amount to.

Furthermore, if the lines do lower property values, depending on how much the revenues are could result in a net loss for the town.


Undergrounding The LinesShould CL&P proceed with the project on the route it is currently planned for, the Town Council has proposed that the lines be placed underground in two areas. According to Town Council member, Bill Ryan, this may double the costs in those specific areas, but would have less effect on local agriculture and the harvest season. Ryan said he was unsure

of the effects undergrounding would have on the soil.


Effect on Farmers and Agriculture

Along the current route, the lines will have a negative impact on agriculture without

some further mitigations adhered to. The towers require 40’ of land to be cleared

on either side in order to be implanted in the ground.

This could have the effect of permanently damaging the soil, or at the very least

disrupting the harvest. Town Council has proposed to CL&P several

mitigations regarding ways to offset the negative impact local farmers may

experience.


The Hawthorne Lane MitigationResidents located on the cul-de-sac of Hawthorne Ln would lose a good portion of the trees on their property, and fear that the unsightliness of the towers running through their front yard would decrease their property value. In

addition, the residents already have a number of power lines on their property. (see: next photo) The current route is marked by the blue arrows I have superimposed on the map, while the single red arrow marks

approximately where the mitigation lies. These residents sat down with CL&P to see what could be done, and according to Town Planner Linda Painter, the official position of the town is to oppose the project’s current route,

but to endorse the Hawthorne Ln Mitigation should it go through as planned.

Map courtesy of Mansfield

Planning and Zoning

Hawthorne Ln Mitigation

Pictured here is the end of the Hawthorne Ln cul-de-

sac. There are 3 homes that stand to be affected without

this mitigation to the proposal. As is plain to see, existing power lines already

run directly through the front yards of these families, and they do not want to have to stare at additional lines.


Potential Health Effects on Nearby Schools

One of the chief concerns of Citizens United, a group that was formed by

town residents to oppose the Interstate Reliability Project, is the

health risks associated with 345 kilovolt power lines. The group cites a

study at their website, saveourtown.us, which was

collaborated on by the Childhood Cancer Research Group at the

University of Oxford and National Grid owners, Transco, which found that statistically, “children whose birth

address was within 200 meters of an overhead power line had a 70%

increased risk of leukemia.” The group cites a number of other studies as well,

all of them stating various health hazards. Some studies found that the electromagnetic fields are linked to cancer in both chiildren and adults.

Another shows a “six-fold increase in spontaneous abortions occuring

before the 10th week of preganancy” in women who withstand exposure to

magnetic fields greater than 16 mG.”


What Could Happen Left UnopposedThis picture is property of Citizens United. According to their website, this is “what

happens when Utility Companies who value Profit Above People are left unopposed.” The picture was taken recently in a small CT town like Mansfield.

Photo property of Citizens

United

cl&p's interstate reliability project

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