RG&E Completes Rochester Area Reliability Project
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Ten-years ago, RG&E along with our parent company AVANGRID embarked on a $389 million investment to upgrade the electricity transmission system in the Rochester region with the Rochester Area Reliability Project (RARP). We recently completed and energized this project, which was developed to meet increased demand for reliable electricity in the Greater Rochester region, while also accommodating future growth and economic development.
“RARP has been a key part of our business strategy for many years as we work to help the region unlock its economic potential and attract new industries and businesses to the area,” said Carl A. Taylor, President and CEO of NYSEG and RG&E. “We take a lot of pride in caring for the communities that we serve. RARP is an important part of this, which is why we worked extremely closely with our communities throughout the process. This project sets the Greater Rochester region up for success now and in the future by providing additional power to support and accommodate growth for generations to come.”
RARP included the construction of a new substation in the town of Henrietta, approximately 27.6 miles of new and rebuilt transmission lines in the City of Rochester and the towns of Gates, Chili and Henrietta, upgrades to three other existing substations. Additionally, we made upgrades to the protection and communications systems at existing substations in the towns of Lewiston and Somerset in Niagara County. It provides additional access to the neighboring 345-kV transmission system run by the New York Power Authority.
RARP’s new transmission lines and substation were designed with the community in mind and routed along existing utility and transmission corridors to mitigate impacts to the environment and neighbors of the project. However, since crossing certain wetland resources during the project was unavoidable, RG&E built a new 12.6-acre free-standing and fully functional wetland on Ballantyne Road in the town of Chili as part of RARP. The wetland achieves a one-and-a-half acre to one replacement rate and we’ll monitor the site for up to 10 years. RG&E also replanted an existing wetland area and is making improvements to a conservation easement area.
We launched RARP in 2011 when we filed an application with the New York State Public Service Commission for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need under Article VII of the Public Service Law. Throughout the course of the project, more than 900 RG&E and AVANGRID employees and outside contractors, and more than 20 companies have contributed to the project.
“There’s so much to be proud of when looking at RARP, but I’m most proud of the way our team came together,” said Caridad Main Mollinedo, Program Manager, RARP, Projects at AVANGRID. “Countless groups across RG&E and AVANGRID contributed to the success of RARP. Bringing together all that experience and ideas ensured that we created the best possible product for our customers.”
