Black River-Clay

Central New York

National Grid’s Black River-Clay project will rebuild approximately 60.9 miles of 115kV electric transmission lines in Jefferson, Oswego, and Onondaga counties. A new substation also will be constructed in East Watertown.

Black River-Clay

Central New York

National Grid’s Black River-Clay project will rebuild approximately 60.9 miles of 115kV electric transmission lines in Jefferson, Oswego, and Onondaga counties. A new substation also will be constructed in East Watertown.

Project Quick Facts

  • Black River-Clay serves three counties: Jefferson, Oswego and Onondaga.
  • The line travels through the towns of Clay and Cicero in Onondaga County; Hastings, Parish, Albion, Orwell and Boylston, and the village of Central Square in Oswego County; and the village of Black River and towns of Lorraine, Worth, Rodman, Rutland and Le Ray in Jefferson County.
  • The project will replace existing 115kV wire and structures in the right-of-way. Additional easements may be needed for the construction and operation of the line.
  • Additionally, the Staplin Creek substation will be built in East Watertown to replace our aging Middle Road substation. Middle Road be retired.
  • Also included are access roads upgrades, and technologies to improve response time and decrease maintenance costs. 

Current Activities

The New York Public Service Commission awarded Article VII permits for this project on July 17, 2026. Subsequently, National Grid filed its Environmental Management and Construction Permit application on July 13, 2026. Survey work along the transmission corridor continues, including geotechnical investigations (soil borings). Sites for potential construction yards (marshalling or laydown yards) continue to be evaluated.

Permitting and Participation

This project required Article VII permitting. The New York State Public Service Commission awarded Article VII permits for the transmission lines and substations for this project on July 17, 2026 as part of case no. 25-T-0184.

National Grid filed its Environmental Management and Construction Plan application with the PSC on July 31, 2026 and it may be viewed as part of the case. For more information about permitting, please see our Project FAQ page.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our open houses on June 12, July 17, and July 22, 2025, and our virtual session on July 15, 2025. We also thank those of you who attended the virtual public statement hearing on January 13, 2026.

To contact National Grid with a question or comment, you may reach us by phone at 844-473-6864844-243-2592 or [email protected].

To submit a complaint, click here and complete this form.

Schedule

  • Design & Permitting: Through Fall 2026
  • Anticipated Construction Start: Spring 2027
  • Anticipated Construction End: 2030