PLAINFIELD — A 70-year-old electrical power transformer that has kept the lights on in Plainfield and a handful of neighboring towns since the 1980s has undergone a significant $7.2 million upgrade by Eversource.
The utility recently completed the major upgrade at the substation, a project that involved installing a significantly larger unit designed to meet the needs of a new era of solar developments and a heightened demand for energy to power vehicles and homes, Eversource officials said.
In addition to Plainfield, the new transformer, which is located at the substation at the intersection of North Union and North Central streets, will also benefit Cummington, Worthington and parts of Savoy. It will also help back up energy in the towns of Ashfield, Blandford and ties over to the Chesterfield Gorge.
This project comes as part of the state’s Electric Sector Modernization Plan, “a strategic roadmap to modernize and upgrade the electric grid to enable an affordable, equitable clean energy transition,” according to the state’s website. The plan has invested billions of dollars into energy infrastructure to meet energy goals for electricity needed to heat homes and power vehicles.
“This is just one project in a suite of projects with the aim and goal of improving capacity, reliability, and resiliency in Massachusetts,” said Matt Biron, director of Transmission Project Management & Construction at Eversource, which is the largest energy delivery company in New England.
Biron said that the old transformer served the town well, but the new transformer will improve capacity in these towns.
“For a long time it was adequate for what the Hilltowns needed,” he said. But the upgrades brought by the new transformer drastically increases capacity and improves voltage stability.
“You went from basically a landline phone to a brand new iPhone 17 — so that type of technology upgrade from where we were to where we are today,” said Biron, adding that the project was also completed a year ahead of its target date and $2 million under budget.
Increased capacity
By capacity, he explained, this does not just mean the ability to use more energy. Capacity also means the ability to back up more energy, which is vital to keeping power on when the towns are rocked with winter storms or other natural disasters.
“Having increased transformer size gives us more redundancy when it comes to reliability. And I think that’s the biggest piece here, for the community and the area,” said Biron.
Solar developments have also been pouring into the Hilltowns over the past few months, and the substation is a crucial piece of infrastructure to support these developments.
Last month in Plainfield, Lowell-based New Leaf solar received a special permit for a 23-acre development at 66 North Union St.
There are also three solar applications from Boston-based Blue Wave solar to develop two more solar arrays in Plainfield, and a 28-acre agrivoltaic system in Worthington.
“Our goal is to help the state reach its goals for clean energy. And our goal is to enable clean energy. So it really checks a lot of boxes,” said Biron.