Utility Substation and Underground Transmission Line

During peak demand in the heat of summer, Belmont Light’s existing system had a hard time meeting capacity.  Wilcox & Barton, Inc. worked closely with their management team, legal counsel, and design team to support construction of this Blair Pond Substation and one-mile underground high voltage transmission line, addressing long-term reliability concerns and upgrading the utility infrastructure for the next generation. 

Collaboration was essential every step of the way, and our LSP/Project Manager was a key contributor to the project design team.  We identified and ranked properties based on technical parameters, our pre-acquisition due diligence, and stakeholder priorities to identify the ideal site. We facilitated communication among town residents, elected officials, and technical experts, working closely with the Board of Selectmen and the community to gather input, answer questions, and ultimately advocate for acquisition of the chosen Brownfields property.  We completed environmental assessment and provided supporting information for permitting related to subsurface construction, transmission line route analysis, MassDEP permitting, and Conservation Commission permitting in Belmont and Cambridge.

To support the permit application process, we provided expert witness testimony to the MA Energy Facilities Siting Board review panel and conducted public presentations with respect to environmental permitting and compliance issues on behalf of Belmont Light.