National Grid held two informational sessions last week for residents to learn more about the proposed substation by the utility on Van Dyke Road.
Two informal sessions were held on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the Nathaniel Adams Blanchard Post 1040-American Legion. Those with interest in the project could ask questions to National Grid representatives and hired consultants before it once again goes before the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals tonight, March 4.
The utility previously said the new substation is needed in order to provide more power to the area’s growing community and prevent brownouts. Some parents and school officials are concerned about the substation’s proximity to Eagle Elementary and Bethlehem Central School District’s bus garage. A use variance is needed for the project, since the area is zoned residential.
Eagle Elementary PTO Vice President Jane Barnes said she is not only concerned about safety, but wants to make sure zoning law is followed appropriately.
National Grid purchased the property in the 1960s with the specific purpose of building a substation at that location. However, the project didn’t go forward, and eventually the area was developed and rezoned.
“They only looked at property they currently own in the Bethlehem area. They didn’t look at anything they could buy. That to me doesn’t sound like they did their due diligence,” said Barnes during the afternoon session.
A variance can be granted for a utility if there is a need, and there are no other alternatives that could minimize the disruption to the neighborhood. An environmental assessment has already been done.
Project manager Joseph Stadelmaier previously said there is a need for the new substation to relieve stress on the area’s smaller and older substations as development increases. This will help to upgrade the system in the area and reduce brownouts in the future.
Stadelmaier told zoning board members two alternatives were reviewed in preparation of the project, but none included buying another property because of the cost.
One scenario would see a smaller substation built at the Van Dyke location, while rebuilding the Delmar station. This plan would not be able to meet regulations and would only be a temporary fix. The second would see adding another transformer at the newer Krumkill station and upgrading the Delmar station, but this would not meet the scheduled needs of the Vista Technology Campus. More land would need to be acquired at the Krumkill station, and a new line would need to be installed under the state Thruway. That would extend the project another two years.
Barnes said she and other parents were worried about safety of the students and did not know if the electromagnetic fields emitting from the substation were safe.
Dr. Amy Williams, an engineer who was hired as a consultant for the meeting from the engineering and scientific consulting company Exponent, said at the meeting that all electronic components in a person’s home emit electromagnetic fields.
“In the case of the substation, once you get to the fence-line, the levels would be about ambient background levels of EMF, which you would experience everyday in your own home,” said Williams.
Melverton Russell, an electrical engineer with National Grid, gave the example that a person’s smartphone emits about 900 hertz of EMF, while the fence-line of the substation emits about 60 hertz.
Stadelmaier also said the new substation is being proposed out of safety concerns. He said substations are typically perfectly safe, but fires can happen if an older station is being overloaded. This is the case for the two substations in the area. A new one is needed on to help with the extra power burdens of a growing community.
Still, Barnes was unsure.
“There are no studies that say 100 percent these substations are safe, and I don’t want our children to be guinea pigs,” said Barnes.
The project is before the zoning board again on Wednesday, March 4, at 7 p.m.
