Colton-Nicholville Reaches Project Milestone
On September 18, the New York State Public Service Commission approved the Article VII application for National Grid to construct the Colton-Nicholville project. This approval represents a crucial step in bringing the Upstate Upgrade and its economic benefits to the St. Lawrence County communities along the Colton-Nicholville line. Projects like these are central to our work to build a smarter, stronger transmission network for our customers and communities.
As a major electrical transmission project, Article VII approval was required to move forward with rebuilding 18.3 miles of the existing 115 kV transmission line. The line runs from the Colton substation in the town of Pierrepoint to the Nicholville substation in the town of Lawrence. The project will replace the original wooden structures with steel H-frame structures, increasing the resiliency of the system. As part of our outreach efforts, National Grid’s application was made available to officials, regulators, agencies, project neighbors, and public repositories such as town halls and libraries.
Residents and community members were encouraged to comment both to National Grid’s project team and to the PSC and we want to thank those who participated in the process. We also have been in regular contact with those who live near the route and will continue to keep them updated on progress throughout the construction process. For more information about permitting, please see the Colton-Nicholville project page on the Upstate Upgrade website.
Construction is expected to begin in 2026. Geotechnical investigations, including soil borings and ground penetrating radar, are ongoing. Projects like these create local jobs and lift up communities along the route, bringing increased local spending and other economic benefits.
