OBSERVER Photo by Natasha Matteliano Pictured is National Grid’s electric substation in Dunkirk.

A multi-million project is coming to Dunkirk, strictly for the maintenance of electric distribution.

For the last 60 years, an electric substation has stood at 106 Point Drive North in the city of Dunkirk and as time has gone by, the equipment is coming to the end of its usable lifespan. According to representatives from National Grid who attended this week’s Dunkirk Planning Board meeting, necessary maintenance work is now needed.

New York State Public Service Law of which National Grid falls under, is considered a public utility and as a public utility, they are required, by law, to provide safe, adequate and reliable electric service to their customers. And the substation has done just that, to approximately 52,000 homes, businesses, hospitals, schools and industrial customers in the local area.

The maintenance work being proposed is necessary to ensure they can continue. In addition to this project, they will also be relocating the controls for the substations which are currently located in the main structural area. Niagara Mohawk, National Grid’s predecessor, previously owned the energy station and in 1999 Niagara Mohawk sold the station to NRG, but kept ownership of the electric substations.

Relocating the controls to a new control building on their property will allow their employees an easier, safer and quicker path to the substation which is very important in regards to a blackout or other emergency situation.

The total plan is expected to run about $20 million and is fully funded using mostly local contractors. It has taken National Grid three-and-a-half years to outline and they are now ready to go out and get some quotes next spring.

What is being done:

¯ 15 new foundations

¯ Replacement of most equipment

¯ New control building

¯ New cable trench

¯ A new main generator

¯ New site lighting (two stage, very low ambient light that won’t be facing any residences)

¯ New structural steel along with the foundations

¯ Four new transformers

¯ New security system

The project will be done in phases and will begin in approximately May 2020 and finish in July 2023. The top height of any existing structures on the property are approximately 80 feet tall. No new structures will be taller than that. Of all the replacement of structures, the tallest will be the control building at 19 feet, which doesn’t exceed the 30 foot maximum allowed in the harbor front district.

National Grid also cited that the closest home to the substation is about 790 feet to the west and the new equipment will maintain that distance, not hindering any land owners and the proposed work will have no negative impact on the public health, safety, welfare, comfort or convenience of the community.