Electric utility Connecticut Light & Power will start work in the coming weeks on its $218 million transmission line through the eastern portion of the state, in order to improve power reliability in southern New England.
The 37-mile Interstate Reliability Project will install a 345-kilovolt transmission line on existing right-of-way through 11 towns from Lebanon to the Rhode Island border in Thompson, along with upgrades to stations in Lebanon and Killingly.
The project will link to 38 miles of transmission line built by electric utility National Grid in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The project is expected to be in-service by the end of 2015.
CL&P was waiting to start the project until all state and federal regulatory approvals were secured. Now that they are, the project will begin with clearing right-of-way and creating access roads.
The Interstate Reliability Project is part of CL&P parents Northeast Utilities’ $1.5 billion transmission expansion called New England East West Solutions, designed to move electricity more efficiently around the region. The first NEEWS portion around Springfield, Mass. was completed in 2013, and the final portion around Central Connecticut remains under study.
