Proposed powerline in southern York County still needed, grid coordinator says
PJM Interconnection’s analysis continues to show a need for the Independence Energy Connection project, according to the company’s latest report.
The benefit-to-cost ratio has to meet or exceed 1.25:1. The latest re-evaluation report shows that PJM’s analysis is 1.42:1, senior engineer Nicolae Dumitriu confirmed.
The report was presented at a PJM Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee on Thursday, Sept. 13.
The Independence Energy Connection project is slated to run 16 miles of new overhead power lines in southern York County and 29 miles of power lines through Franklin County.
Capital costs of the project have increased from $320 million to $336.17 million, according to Dumitriu, but officials note that they do not have current cost estimates of the project from Transource Energy.
The project “must have a ratio of no less than 1.25:1” benefit-to-cost ratio over a 15-year period, according to the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate. The new powerline showed a 2.48:1 benefit in 2016 and was re-evaluated at 1.32:1 in 2017.
Transource, hired to design, construct and obtain state approvals for the project, is currently working on bidding construction work, said PJM Vice President of Planning Steve Herling.
