Town allows PSEG to do tests needed for possible EPCAL substation
The Riverhead Town Board on Tuesday unanimously authorized an agreement to allow PSEG-Long Island to do soil tests on a section of the town-owned Enterprise Park at Calverton.
PSEG is considering building a power substation at that locatio.
The Long Island Power Authority, which contracts with PSEG to run its transmission system, selected several solar energy proposals to negotiate with last December including one of a 90-acre proposed “energy park” at EPCAL, and four others on private property in Calverton.
But with two other private solar energy projects already under construction in EPCAL, a shortage existed in substations to take the energy generated by the proposed new solar plants, which is why the EPCAL site is being considered.
The five proposed solar energy projects would generate 51.4 mW, officials say.
Negotiations between the power companies proposing the solar projects and LIPA are still ongoing, according to Jeffrey Weir, a spokesperson for PSEG.
The power plant proposed for the town’s energy park at EPCAL would be run by Hecate Energy, and officials are hoping the revenue generated by it will help offset continuing budget deficits the town has.
Councilman George Gabrielsen, who first proposed the energy park, says the deal between the town and Hecate awaits the completion of the environmental impact study on the town’s proposed subdivision of its land at EPCAL.
