SNJDC's Energy & Environment Committee Meeting 7/9/25
- randi6494
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
The Energy & Environment Committee, in collaboration with PSE&G, organized a meeting to discuss infrastructure and substation improvement projects in Burlington County. Co-Chaired by Chris Dailey, the event took place at GEI Consultants' offices in Mount Laurel and offered attendees a comprehensive overview of the progress made to secure New Jersey's energy future.
Senator Troy Singleton's Welcome Remarks
Senator Troy Singleton, representing New Jersey's Seventh Legislative District, welcomed attendees to Mount Laurel. He underscored the critical importance of the energy future due to increased demand and emphasized the need for strong, reliable, and resilient energy infrastructure that also provides equity of opportunity. Senator Singleton highlighted that the conversation would address these challenges, particularly focusing on PSEG's efforts to ensure a reliable energy system. He stressed the value of policymakers hearing directly from those in the field who work daily on infrastructure. He concluded by noting Burlington County's focus on innovative energy solutions, such as solar panels on brownfields and enhanced battery storage, positioning the county as an "incubator of innovation" in energy growth.
NJPACT REAL’s Impact on Critical Infrastructure: Chris Dailey, VP GEI Consultants, Energy & Environment Committee Co-Chair:
Chris Dailey’s presentation underscored the growing threat of flooding in New Jersey to critical infrastructure. He emphasized that much of New Jersey’s development occurred along waterways before the implementation of modern flood hazard regulations, leaving many communities vulnerable to flooding today. The current priority, he noted, is to protect existing infrastructure, safeguard buildings, and ensure effective evacuation routes. Chris provided an overview of the Inland Flood Protection Rule, adopted in July 2023, which updates stormwater management and flood hazard area control regulations for inland waterways draining 50 acres or more. He explained that the latest storm prediction models, updated from outdated data sets 20 to 30 years old, show a significant rise in storm intensity and duration. These conditions are leading to “cloudburst” events and flash flooding, with updated rainfall intensity curves indicating that 80% of precipitation now falls within a two- to three-hour window. As a result, the projected mean flood elevation for a 100-year storm has risen by approximately 50%.
Chris also discussed efforts currently underway with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner’s office to develop coastal flood protection rules, noting South Jersey’s extensive shoreline and the need to balance public safety with responsible coastal development. To illustrate the practical application of these rules, he presented a case study involving a substation in New Jersey originally constructed in the 1940s. Over time, a nearby stream overtopped its banks, flooding the facility and damaging electrical equipment. GEI Consultants responded by conducting a detailed hydrologic and hydraulic analysis of the 150-acre watershed, incorporating updated precipitation data into their modeling. Although initial projections anticipated a substantial increase in flood elevation, the refined “Method 6” modeling showed a more moderate rise, approximately half a foot, less than the FEMA-mandated two-foot increase. This allowed for targeted elevation of substation infrastructure by two to three feet, along with the implementation of stormwater best management practices, including a perimeter drainage system designed to manage seasonal flooding. Despite early permitting challenges for proposed stream improvements, the project team secured a hardship exemption from NJDEP, enabling critical infrastructure upgrades and ensuring continued electrical service for the surrounding community.
PSE&G Substation Projects – Burlington County: Nick Joly, Senior Project Manager, PSE&G
Nick Jolly, a Senior Project Manager at PSEG, presented on several ongoing and upcoming substation projects in Burlington County, emphasizing PSEG's commitment to providing safe and reliable power. He explained that PSEG, in collaboration with PJM (who regulates transmission), proactively analyzes its system to identify and mitigate issues, often undertaking projects mandated by PJM with penalties for non-compliance.
PSEG has seven key projects in Burlington County, focusing on addressing overload conditions and replacing aging infrastructure. These upgrades also aim to prepare for increased demand from data centers and electric vehicles (EVs)
Key projects highlighted include:
Delran Substation (Completed May 2024): A new 230 KV to 13 KV station built to offload significant demand from the overloaded Cinnaminson and Levittown substations, providing load relief for over 56,000 customers.
Maple Shade and Medford Substations (Expansions): These existing substations, currently using a "straight bus" configuration, are being converted to seven-breaker "ring bus" systems. This change significantly enhances reliability and redundancy, preventing voltage drops and system instability if a line or equipment fails.
Sharwood Substation (New): This project will reinforce the 69 KV system by bringing a 230 KV line from the Coxus Corner substation, dropping it to 69 KV, and feeding it into Medford and Southampton to provide better reliability and redundancy.
Southampton Substation (Upgrade): This project involves replacing 50-year-old 13-pin switchgear with new, enclosed equipment that also has provisions for future load growth from EVs and data centers.
Burlington Substation (Upgrade): A challenging project due to the 80-year-old 4K switchgear needing replacement in a very confined space (a parking lot). It requires bringing in a temporary "contingency unit" to maintain service while the old equipment is removed and new is installed, making it a complex, multi-year project.
Greenfield Substation (New): A brand new 230 by 13 KV substation intended to address overload at the Lumberton substation and provide sufficient capacity for future demands in the area. Nick highlighted that these projects, many of which are PJM mandated, are crucial for PSEG's role in "keeping the lights on".
During the Q&A, PSEG addressed the consideration of battery storage for redundancy and peak demand, stating that their engineering and planning departments are evaluating it, acknowledging it's part of the state's energy master plan and regulatory process. A significant challenge discussed was the supply chain issues for transformers, due to factors like reliance on overseas manufacturers, tariffs, and delays in obtaining critical electronic components.
PSEG is proactively procuring these long-lead items to mitigate delays, often well ahead of construction. It was also noted that this is a national issue, with PSEG competing with other states and regions for equipment, and domestic content rules adding further complexity. These supply chain issues also impact developers in housing and other large projects. Despite these challenges, PSEG remains committed to prudently building the necessary infrastructure for system reliability, noting the high demand from data centers seeking New Jersey's regulatory clarity and reliable system.
VIEW THE EVENT SLIDES:
