Pole Hearing with National Grid Nov 21 2024

Robyn  asked about double poles

• Verizon is responsible for the removal of the double pole as the last attacher.
• National Grid alone is pushing this project. NG says: Heath is receiving insufficient reliable power.
• Why do poles have to be 45' tall? Ng SYAS:  Shorter poles are not allowed for 3 phase power.
• Heath is responsible for reattachment costs. Can NG help with this cost? ng SYAS: No one-off financial assistance for Heath.
• What is happening on Avery Brook Road? ng SYAS: Looking at an alternative design, not an additional project.

Attendees Questions and Comments

• Wanda Mooney asked the SB to deny the petition for poles on Burrington Hill Road where they never were before.
• Phil Pless, a Realtor from Ashfield, commented on the value of the Mooney property. Estimated a $250,000 loss of value  if the view is obstructed.
• An abutter to Wanda asked that the project not be approved as it stands.  Brought up Green Mountain Power which is burying their power lines.
• Doug Mason said we don't know our costs,] and there seems to be no alternatives. Felt we have no choice but to turn down the permit.
• Bill Fontes: 86 poles on Burrington Hill Rd requiring reattachment of our fiber network, 46 coming up Avery Brook. Felt like this was jammed down our throat. Response was that NG just became aware of how dire the situation is.
• David Gordon:  Utility is required to remove poles in 90 days but there is no enforcement. We should try to get a commitment from Verizon and NG  to remove poles with 90 days per MAss General Law.
• Ned Wolf asked about the work on the intersection of Bray Rd and Colrain Stage Rd. The response was that the work is independent of this project but will help with the project.
• Tony Bocaccio commented that he Bray Rd work is a critical part of the project suggesting that to say it is not part of this project is disingenuous.
• Devon Clark: How many people will this help? Response was only 1 feeder comes out of Bear Swamp substation. Response: Phase 1 effects Charlemont and Heath, Phase 2 happens in Rowe. Once done there will be 2 feeders coming out of the Bear Swamp substation.
• Will Emmet: Have they done a tradeoff of burying on Burrington Hill or going up Avery Brook Rd?  Response was the the crew that works on buried lines comes out of Worcester, the other crew comes from No Adams. NG is looking at Avery Brook Rd as an alternate , but may not have numbers until late Dec of early Jan.  
• Tom Lessor: Wandy Mooney lawyer. Green Mountain Power in VT is burying the lines.  Clearly burying is safer for line workers and burying is more reliable.  DPU confirmed that the SB has the power to decline the Burrington Hill permit request.  Mooney's hired JS Rae to give an estimate for burying  which came to $139,000. 
• Bob Burrington: NG has to do the right thing.  
• Art  Schwenger: Do these MG representatives at the meeting have the authority to make the decision? Response: No they can just escalate
•  Wanda's sister:  Eversource just buried the lines without contesting it. If Eversource can bury without a problem, why can't National Grid?  Why can't NG with all its money, just bury the lines without a problem.   There needs to be some kind of a compromise. 
• Barbara Gordon: Why are we discussing Burrington Hill Road when NG is looking at Avery Brook Rd. Response: NG  was being pro-active.
• Briell Gibson:  Recently moved to town on Burrington Hill Rd and is concerned that we may have to this again. if "Smartgrid" comes along.  Response is that the term is too ambiguous. What is being done now is in line with greater efficiency. 
• Robyn asked for justification as to why we have to pay to reattach to these poles when we are still paying for new poles for our fiber project. She said she did not want to hear the answer that we signed a contract.  There was no way to anticipate this project.

The hearing was continued into January so that NG can get answers to questions that were asked at the meeting.