State Senate OKs Orangetown Land Swap for O&R Power Substation Project

The state Senate today approved a measure that would allow Orange and Rockland Utilities to swap land with the Town of Orangetown for a local power project.

The legislation would allow O&R to build transition structures on what is currently town-owned parkland so it could tap an existing overhead 138kV transmission line to feed power to its new substation on Corporate Drive.

This is part of a $29.8-million O&R substation and transmission line project designed to provide expanded and more reliable electrical service to customers in the area and promote corporate development. For example, the additional power is considered a key to Verizon's planned expansion of its data centers — something the company might not have been able to do while remaining in Rockland County without the increased power.

“This substation will provide the means for adequate and sufficient electric service to the Corporate Drive area in Orangeburg, which will help to ensure that existing corporate employers and taxpaying ratables, remain a vibrant part of the Orangetown community, and hopefully attract other potential ratables to the area,” said state Sen. David Carlucci, D-New City, who sponsored the legislation.

"It’s a great step forward for the project," said Orange and Rockland spokesman Mike Donovan. "We look forward to the Assembly taking fast action as the Senate did. We are happy for Senator Carlucci’s help. He has been a strong partner in this enterprise. We look forward passing assembly as soon as possible."

Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, D-Suffern, is co-sponsoring the bill in the Assembly.

"This bill is critical to preserving a community's character, protecting local jobs, and most importantly responding to constituent needs," Jaffee said. "I am pleased the Senate acted to meet these goals, and am committed to getting this legislation passed in the Assembly, as we did last session, and finally signed into law."

The bill was introduced and passed the Assembly in 2010, but did not pass the Senate. This was during the time that Rockland County was without a state senator. Sen. Thomas Morahan, R-New City, died July 12 at age 78 and his seat was not filled until Carlucci took office Jan. 1.

"Last year Assemblywoman Jafeee was very helpful in getting this through the assembly, but after we lost Senator Morahan and with the disfunction of the New York Senate, we could not get the bill passed in the senate," Orangetown Town Supervisor Paul Whalen said. "This is a situation where we are trying to increase economic development, trying to make corporate parks and our neighbors more viable as business entities. To get legislation through that will give economic benefit to Orangetown, we are most grateful to Senator Carlucci and Assemblywoman Jaffee that they are able to step up to the plate and do the citizen's work."

The original proposal for the tapping off the power line drew concerns of residents in Fern Oval West, which was the reason for the land swap, so the necessary structures can be built with a 50-foot-wide buffer between them and the homes on Fern Oval West.

Orangetown gave Orange and Rockland a special-use permit to begin the work last June. The new legislation would make the terms of that special license permanent.