Planning Board approves PSE&G substation at Galloping Hill campus; schedules May 15 special meeting

The Kenilworth Planning Board voted to approve a site-plan application for a proposed electrical substation intended to serve a future data center at the corporate campus at 2000 Galloping Hill Road.

Jason Sudell, attorney for the applicant, described the project as "a site plan application for a proposed substation that will serve, hopefully, a future data center on the site in the K 11 Building." He told the board the substation is a permitted use under the redevelopment plan and that the applicant is coordinating with PSE&G and other outside agencies.

The project engineer, Daniel Miola, testified the substation footprint will be about 1.3 acres and described on-site components: three transformers, three switchgear yards and a control house "about 12 feet high, 15 feet wide by 55 feet long" (under 1,000 square feet). He said the facility will receive 69 kV feeder lines and step that voltage down to 26 kV for the data center. Miola said routine maintenance will consist of weekly inspections performed by PSE&G personnel and that there will be no regular staffed operations at the yard: "we don't expect any kind of regular deliveries here in the normal course."

The applicant is proposing security and screening measures aimed at nearby…