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. 

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). Sites for potential construction yards (marshalling or laydown yards) are 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 [email protected].

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