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| First and Jackson Streets |
Hoboken residents who live in neighborhoods where mysterious (and very tall) power poles have sprouted up are wondering: what are these for?
I know!
The poles are part of PSE&G's Madison Street Substation Project, the multi-million dollar capital improvement to upgrade Hoboken's electric distribution system that our City Council and Planning Boards approved in 2017.
Alas, not everyone is happy about having one of these wooden giants on their block. Nor elevated power lines running past their home.
Alas, not everyone is happy about having one of these wooden giants on their block. Nor elevated power lines running past their home.
GA was contacted by one; he claims that residents were left in the dark about the power poles.
"As a resident of Jackson Street and someone who went to every public meeting about the new PSE&G substation this is disappointing to know the City and PSE&G withheld these plans from the public... The lines need to be placed high up on double sized poles that will have lightening protection because they are a danger. Both PSE&G and Hoboken knew that people would balk if they were fully transparent about the transmission lines so they kept it on the down low when the were sell the Monroe Substation concept."
Well, GA can certainly understand why residents would want to know everything about new elevated power lines running along their streets.
GA was provided with an email from Hoboken's Chief Resilience Officer Caleb Stratton; he clarifies what the new poles are and the voltage they will carry:
- "The location of transmission infrastructure (new poles) will be on Jackson St. from 1st to 7th Street, Madison from Observer to 12th St., and Monroe from 7th to 12th. The new transmission infrastructure is bringing redundant power to the new elevated and consolidated substation.
- The new infrastructure is not 85kV (thousand-volts), it is 69kV, which is a low level transmission voltage. For example, the existing poles carry 26kV, are lower and closer to residential buildings.
- Substantial research has been undertaken to understand the impact of electromagnetic frequencies associated with transmission lines. Two examples are attached, 1 from PSE&G on the impacts of EMF frequencies (that documents source information from the National Cancer Institute, and the World Health Organization). In this documentation it shows the mG for the 69kV to be comparable to a dishwasher or washing machine. The second study is one that I found from the State of Wisconsin, that corroborates PSE&G’s documentation. On pg. 5 of the attached PDF mG readings from a 69 kV line are less than most household appliances."
In addition, PSE&G's website has a detailed description of the Madison Street Substation Upgrade project. According to PSE&G, old poles will be taken down once new poles are up and power lines can be transferred. GA was interested to see that our Hoboken's substation will connect existing stations in Jersey City, Kearny and North Bergen; which account for separate elevated power lines running along Jackson, Jefferson and Madison Streets.
Well here it is, folks: everything you always wanted to know about the Madison Substation Upgrade Project but were afraid to ask.
So glad I sold my place on Madison Street before these polls went in!
ReplyDeletePSE&G are saying that the new poles will be between 52 and 65 feet tall putting the electrical transmission cables at the level of a fifth or six story window of a residential building.
DeleteThe max voltage of the existing wires is 26K volts (some far lower voltage) and new the cables will carry more than two and a half times greater at 69K volts.
Unlike a dishwasher in Director Stratton's example, the cables will emit their EMS fields over a large of Hoboken area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week , 365 days a year.
So based upon that estimate of 52 and 65 feet, the wires will be emitting EMFs from a distance of the width of a sidewalk from my two year old and four year old's bedroom 24 hours a day. And contrary to PSEG's assertion a quick literature search shows that the safety of these power lines is far from conclusive; including studies published in the British Journal of Cancer and one study commissioned by the Cal Department of Health Services. (https://www.wired.com/2002/08/study-power-lines-probably-risky/) So thanks Council!
Delete@Kevin - that's pretty damn terrible. I'm very sorry.
DeleteNice work
ReplyDeleteIf PSE&G were working closely with the City of Hoboken, why are the residents just now finding out about the extent of this project and not from Hoboken City Hall or their City Council representatives but from this vlog? They publicized the sub-station but not the power lines etc, that will impact many residents daily lives. Unless residents knew to look up the details on PSE&G websites they would not know what was going until their streets were under construction. All the lines being put underground ?
ReplyDeleteThat's a fair point. Perhaps the City's new Director of Engineering can coordinate a meeting(s) with PSE&G to walk through the project for residents. Free advice: ask for a meeting with the mayor or staff, then ask for a public meeting on the full scope of the project.
DeleteFrankly then Mayor Zimmer or City Council President Bhalla should have had that full public disclosure meeting before they agreed to PSE&G's power line plans. They did not. At that point maybe public opinion could have pushed PSE&G to place the power lines underground or have some real input to mitigate the negative aspects of this massive city wide project. Understandably City Hall going into an election cycle may not have wanted to tarnish their "resiliency" win with messy inconvenient facts, Now there is little or nothing that can be done change things for the better.
DeleteI wonder if there were any alternatives. I'm not sure that burying the wires would add to "resiliency".
DeleteI asked a friend knowledgeable about such things & he said that the these are the lowest end transmission lines, anything lower is a distribution line & this is what is needed if Hoboken wants to be ready for the next Sandy. They'll be plenty high not to bother most people, but those with upper floor apartments may take issue with that assessment. Anyone below them won't even realize they're there.
Anon-- To your point, I wouldn't give Councilpersons a pass. PSE&G's elevated power lines enter Hoboken in the 4th and 5th Wards. Former At-Large Councilman Dave Mello's neighborhood. If Ramos, Cunningham and Mello were unaware of the impact of PSE&G plans on their neighborhoods/ constituents then there's no excuse for that, and if they were aware, why didn't they call for a PSE&G meeting with affected constituents, right? Most likely all- including Bhalla- were too mired in a Reform v Reform political slugfest, and Mello was looking for a place to land. If you are looking to blame individuals, you could start there. Or end there.
DeleteI recall the council voting on the land transfer to PSE&G required for the deal to go through in April 2017-- a $175M infrastructure upgrade which wouldn't cost Hoboken taxpayers a dime. The focus of all seemed to be getting the deal done, not on implementation. I agree with you, the community should have had awareness and input.
I am not giving anyone a pass. If the facts and details were being suppressed and I believe they were for whatever reason, expediency, politics or a mix of the two, then those who were surpressing the facts are culpable. I do not think any of the City Council members were privy to the details of the project with perhaps the exception of Councilman at Large Doyle who was on the Planning Board at the time and being much more connected to the PSE&G Substation plans.
DeleteI consider myself one of Dawn Zimmer's staunchest supporters and voted for Ravi Bhalla for both City Council at Large and Mayor. Bottom line is this all happened on Mayors Zimmer's and Bhalla's watch and they are ultimately responsible for what happens under their leadership.
The consolidation of Monroe Street substation the 2nd Street substation land swap was a good deal for the residents of Hoboken and one can be supportive of the project in general while questioning the procedures and details.
PSE&G sent out an email this morning saying they will start construction TOMORROW at 8:00am installing these massive new high voltage power line poles beginning at Madison and Observer and working their way north. Work will continue Monday through Saturday and some Sundays until they are done. Expect traffic delays and no parking restrictions on both side of the street. After Madison Street work will start on Jackson Street.
ReplyDeleteUnderstandably both PSE&G and the City has kept this uglification of Hoboken's west side under wraps until the very last minute.