By William Opalka

Seven projects proposed by transmission developers for the mid-Hudson region have cleared an initial screening by the staff of the New York Public Service Commission.

Those projects scored well enough on staff’s efficiency and environmental ratings to warrant further study, according to an interim report filed on July 6 (12-T-502, et al).

The PSC has sought to jump-start transmission development in the counties north of New York City to alleviate congestion and deliver power from underutilized upstate generation resources to the higher demand areas of the state. (See Tx Plan to Open NY Choke Points Without New ROWs.)

The staff scored 21 proposed projects from four developers. Incumbent transmission owners that formed New York Transco — Central Hudson Gas & Electric, Consolidated Edison, New York Power Authority, New York State Electric & Gas, Niagara Mohawk Power, Orange and Rockland Utilities and Rochester Gas & Electric — have four projects on the list. NextEra Energy Transmission New York has one project and Boundless Energy NE has two.

One developer, North American Transmission Corp., did not receive any favorable recommendations.

“These remaining scenarios are the most promising from an electric system benefit perspective and are significantly more environmentally compatible primarily because they are all designed to use existing rights-of-way,” the report said.

One late development will further impact the proposals. Competitive Power Ventures said on June 12 that it has closed financing for its proposed 720-MW combined-cycle plant in Orange County. Because CPV had not been included in the commission’s original analysis, staff will need to remodel power flows.

“The study is also to include an analysis of alternatives to a transmission facility and to address the issue of whether there is sufficient public need for a transmission facility as a matter of public policy,” the report said.