Eversource Energy to build an underground substation in Cambridge
New England Council member, Eversource Energy, broke ground on a new underground substation in Cambridge, MA, on January 29th. The 35,000-square-foot substation will be buried 105 feet underground beneath Kendall Square as part of the company’s Greater Cambridge Energy Project (GCEP). Once completed, the electrical underground station will be the largest in the United States.
The project will “step down” electricity from power lines to a lower voltage to allow it to be used by homes and businesses. Building the electrical station underground helps the company address concerns from the city over aesthetic impact, fire possibility, and loss of urban real estate value. Eversource has stated that it plans to put the substation in service in 2029.
The collaborative project will help accommodate the city’s effort to switch from fossil fuel to electricity for heating and vehicle charging. “Working with our partners at BXP, the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, and the City of Cambridge, the Greater Cambridge Energy Program is a creative solution that helps shape a more sustainable and resilient energy future for our customers in the region,” said Eversource Chairman, President and CEO Joe Nolan.
The New England Council congratulates Eversource Energy on this innovative new endeavor.
Read more in The Boston Globe and on the Eversource Energy website.