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, a new substation will be built in East Watertown to replace our aging Middle Road substation, which will be retired.
  • Also included are access roads upgrades, and technologies to improve response time and decrease maintenance costs. 

Public Meetings

Please join us at an in-person open house or virtual information session. Project team members will be on hand to provide project information and answer questions. 

Virtual Information Session:

 

Tuesday, July 15, at 6 p.m.

The Zoom link will be provided here as we get closer to the event.

 

In-Person Open Houses:

Note – there will not be a formal presentation for the in-person open houses. Please drop in at your convenience.

 

Thursday, June 12, 6–8 p.m. 

Altmar-Albion Municipal Building

15 Bridge St., Altmar, NY 13302

 

Thursday, July 17, 4–7 p.m.

Paul V Moore High School

44 School Dr., Central Square, NY 13036

 

Tuesday, July 22, 4–7 p.m.

Black River Municipal Building

107 Jefferson Place, Black River, NY 13612 

 

Can’t attend a meeting and still have questions? You can always contact us at UpstateUpgradeCNY@nationalgrid.com or 844-243-2592.

 

Current Activities

The project entered the permitting phase with the submittal of an Article VII Application to the New York Public Service Commission in March 2025. Survey work along the transmission corridor continues, including geotechnical investigations (soil borings) are underway. Project team members will be on site, reviewing the corridor starting in Mary 2025. Sites for potential construction yards (marshalling or laydown yards) continue to be under evaluation.

Permitting and Participation

This project will require Article VII permitting to proceed. National Grid submitted the Article VII Application - Case no. 25-T-0184 - to the Public Service Commission (PSC) on March 14, 2025. Copies the Application were provided to officials, regulators, agencies, and public repositories such as town halls and libraries. The Application is also available on the PSC websiteFor more information about permitting, please see our Project FAQ page.

The permitting process includes opportunities for public involvement and comment from permitting through construction. To contact National Grid with a question or comment, you may reach us by phone at 844-243-2592 or UpstateUpgradeCNY@nationalgrid.com.

Once National Grid submits its Article VII Application to the Public Service Commission, interested persons who wish to participate as parties in this case may file for party status. This may be done through the Commission’s website. Further instructions will become available here once the Application is submitted.

Schedule

  • Design & Permitting: 2023 – 2025
  • Anticipated Construction Start: Spring 2026
  • Anticipated Construction End: Fall 2029