- What is a Transmission Line?
- What will this project do?
- Why is this upgrade needed?
- How was this route selected?
- Where will it go?
- When will it be built?
- How much will it cost?
- What are the benefits to the region?
- What approvals are you seeking?
- Do the lines produce electric and magnetic fields?
- Are electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) harmful?
- Who can I contact for more information?
What is a Transmission Line?
An overhead transmission line is a set of three wires, called conductors, attached to structures that deliver electric power from g generating sources (aka wind turbine, solar, etc) to customers. The power is then distributed to consumers from the substations through lower-voltage distribution lines. The three transmission line conductors carry the electric power, but transmission lines also may have one or two smaller wires called shield wires at the top of the structure that protect the line from lightning strikes. Transmission lines are designed to operate at a specific design voltage. The higher the voltage, the more electric power a transmission line can carry.
What will this project do?
PSE&G’s Northeast Grid Reliability Project will ensure reliable electric power for nearly 1 million New Jersey residents in the northern part of the state by upgrading the overhead transmission system and substations from 138,000-volt (138kV) to 230,000-volt (230kV) operation, and adding additional underground circuits for improved reliability.
Why is this upgrade needed?
People are using more electricity to power everything from big-screen televisions to computers and the latest kitchen appliances. The existing transmission system in the project area, some of which dates back to the 1920s, was built before the popularity of computers, large televisions, iPods, cellular phones and other electric devices that have become common in our lives. Population trends indicate continued growth in the region.
PJM Interconnection, L.L.C., the regional entity responsible for planning the transmission system, identified the need for the Northeast Grid Reliability Project, which is designed to deliver the electric power required by New Jersey businesses and residents.
The project will relieve transmission system congestion and provide better power quality in the region. The recommended solution to improve reliability is to upgrade and convert the existing overhead transmission circuits, substations and switching stations from 138kV to 230kV, and add additional underground circuits.
How was this route selected?
The selected route for overhead transmission upgrades follow existing PSE&G rights-of-way for the project from the Roseland Switching Station to the Hudson Switching Station in Jersey City, thereby minimizing the construction impact to the surrounding communities. The route for the underground portion was chosen to minimize impacts to state, county and municipal roads.
Where will it go?
Overhead transmission wire upgrades will take place in Roseland, West Caldwell, North Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Little Falls, Clifton, Bloomfield, Nutley, Belleville, North Arlington, Newark, Lyndhurst, Kearny, and Jersey City along the existing PSE&G right of way.
Also, five PSE&G stations will be upgraded to 230kV. They are: West Caldwell Substation, Cook Road Substation in Nutley, Kingsland Station in North Arlington, Turnpike Station in Kearny and Kearny Switching Station in Kearny.
The following 230kv stations will be reconfigured: Roseland Switching Station, Athenia Switching Station in Clifton, Saddle Brook Substation, Essex Station in Newark, Hudson Switching Station in Jersey City and South Waterfront Switching Station in Jersey City.
Additional underground transmission circuits will be added in Clifton, Garfield, Saddle Brook, Lodi, Rochelle Park, Maywood, Hackensack, Bogota, Ridgefield Park, Ridgefield, and Jersey City.
When will it be built?
Construction of the underground portion began in the summer of 2012. Overhead construction could began in the fall of 2013. The project will be in-service in June 2016.
How much will it cost?
The project cost is estimated to be $975 million.
What are the benefits to the region?
In a word - reliability. The upgrade will help the region’s utilities meet the growing demand for safe, reliable electricity.
What approvals are you seeking?
PSE&G will secure necessary permits and approvals from local governing authorities along the route, as well as the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and other applicable state agencies.
Do the lines produce electric and magnetic fields?
Electric and magnetic fields are present wherever there is a flow of electric current, whether in wires in the home, electrical appliances, or power lines. Electric fields are produced by the voltage or electrical pressure in a wire and are present even if an appliance is turned off, as long as it is connected to a source of electric power. Magnetic fields are produced whenever there is a flow of electric current through a wire. Electric and magnetic fields are not visible, like other fields such as a gravitational field or a temperature field.
Are electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) harmful?
The overwhelming body of scientific study shows no definitive link between EMF and human health issues. Since 1977, concerns over magnetic fields and possible health effects have been the subject of numerous scientific and regulatory review panels, and extensive research and studies continue to be funded in this field of study.
After nearly 30 years of worldwide research, there are no direct or causal links between electric and magnetic fields and adverse health effects. New Jersey has standards regarding maximum permissible electric fields at the edge of transmission line rights of way. However, there are no state standards with regards to magnetic field levels nor are there any federal rules, regulations or standards for either electric or magnetic field levels.
Magnetic fields from appliances like hair dryers, microwave ovens, and motorized appliances are often stronger than the fields directly beneath power lines. PSE&G will design and install this line according to appropriate state and federal guidelines related to safety and environmental impact.
Learn more about EMF
Who can I contact for more information?
If you have questions or concerns call our toll free number at 1-877-678-5784.
