Vermont Public Utility Commission Issues Certificate of Public Good for Green Mountain Power Corporation's Transmission Line Upgrade

Strategic Insights -

The Vermont Public Utility Commission has issued a Certificate of Public Good for Green Mountain Power Corporation's (GMP) transmission line upgrade project in Salisbury, Middlebury, New Haven, and Weybridge, Vermont. The certificate allows GMP to proceed with the project, which includes upgrades to a 46 kV transmission line, subject to certain conditions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Vermont Public Utility Commission has issued a Certificate of Public Good for GMP's transmission line upgrade project.
  • The project involves upgrades to a 46 kV transmission line in Salisbury, Middlebury, New Haven, and Weybridge, Vermont.
  • The certificate is subject to 21 conditions, which include restrictions on site preparation, construction, operation, and maintenance, as well as measures to protect rare, threatened, or endangered plant and animal species.
  • Conditions 3 and 4 prohibit construction activities and deliveries between 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. Monday through Friday, and between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. on Saturdays, except for required outages.
  • Conditions 6 and 12 require compliance with memoranda of understanding with the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, respectively.
  • Condition 7 requires archaeological Phase III research and mitigation for six National Register-eligible sites.
  • Conditions 14 through 17 protect rare, threatened, or endangered plant species, including false pennyroyal, fringe-top closed gentian, and awned sedge.
  • Condition 18 requires measures to protect pool-breeding amphibian necessary wildlife habitat.
  • Condition 19 prohibits project activities in certain areas from April 15 to August 15 without prior approval of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.
  • Condition 20 requires GMP to pay all invoices from State agencies related to the proceeding.

Statistics:

  • 46 kV transmission line upgrade project
  • 21 conditions attached to the Certificate of Public Good
  • Restrictions on site preparation, construction, operation, and maintenance
  • Measures to protect 10 National Register-eligible sites
  • Requirements to protect rare, threatened, or endangered plant species (Conditions 14-17)
  • Requirements to protect pool-breeding amphibian necessary wildlife habitat (Condition 18)
  • Requirement to obtain prior approval for project activities in certain areas (Condition 19)

Sources:

  • Vermont Public Utility Commission (Source 1)
  • Certificate of Public Good (Source 2)
  • Memorandum of Understanding between GMP and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (Source 3)
  • Memorandum of Understanding between GMP and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (Source 4)
  • Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Plant Survey and Significant Natural Community Evaluation Report, Section 4 (Source 5)
  • Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department (Source 6)