New Haven

About

VELCO operates the Vermont bulk electric system from the Rutland-based headquarters and is required by the North American Electricity Corporation to maintain a fully redundant control room in the event that the main control center is rendered inoperable. The New Haven Operations Facility will enable the VELCO Operations, Information Technologies, Energy Management System and Data and Communications facilities to continue the safe and reliable operation of the eletric grid during an emergency. 

Needs & Benefits

This Project is driven by the need for VELCO to maintain the safe and reliable operation of the bulk electric system within the region. Transmission utilties such as VELCO are required to design, operate and maintain a transmission network according to national and regional reliability standards. Under these standards, VELCO is required to have primary and secondary operational facilities that do not depend on each other, and must be able to bring the secondary facility online within two hours after the loss of the primary operations center. 

Components

The project consists of the following components:

• Backup operations center
• System operator training facility
• Data center
• Incident command center
• Secondary office building to be used in the event of a disaster at the Rutland headquarters
• Office space for utility-related meetings

Other Project components include: 

• Two 3-phase electric distribution services with power tranformers
• Two backup emergency generators
• Two chiller fans 
• Eight foot (8') security fence surrounding perimeter of the building

Impacts

VELCO's aesthetic consultant (T.J. Boyle Associates) reviewed the preliminary design plans and performed preliminary visual analysis of the proposed Project area. The findings indicate that the Project will not create any undue adverse impacts. A full analysis of potential aesthetic impacts will be included with the Petition filed with the Public Utility Commission. VELCO does not anticiapte adverse aesthetic impacts from the project.

VELCO's  noise consultant (Resource Systems Group) will assess the potential noise impacts associated with the Project. A complete engineering noise analysis will be provided as part of the Project's filing with the Public Utility Commission. VELCO does not anticipate adverse impacts at the residences closest to the Project. 

VELCO anticipates limited, short duration traffic impacts, if any, due to deliveries of equipment and material to the Project site during construction. Such deliveries will use existing roads with vehicles commonly used on public roads. Traffic control services will be employed during the delivery of large equipment to safely manage traffic flow. 

Project Timeline

• Summer 2019
  • Public meetings
• Fall 2019
  • Regulatory and permitting process
• Summer 2020
  • Construction start
• Fall/Winter 2022
  • Anticipated completion