Eversource is asking Burlington residents to weigh in on a proposed new substation, saying the Burlington Energy Project is needed to add grid capacity as electricity demand rises and nearby substations strain under the load.
Here’s what to know
At a Sept. 24 open house at the Burlington Public Library, Eversource presented its proposal for a new facility. The Daily Times Chronicle reported that the plan calls for a 115-kV substation on about two acres of company-owned land near Winn Street, next to an existing Eversource right-of-way in Burlington.
Substations act as key transfer points in the electric system, helping deliver power and cleaner energy to homes and businesses. That can mean fewer bottlenecks as more housing and businesses are added and as electric vehicles and electric heating become more common.
Ian Kea, Eversource’s senior specialist for project engagement, said overloaded substations in Woburn are driving the proposal.
“We need a long-term substation to mitigate pressure at those stations,” Kea said. “It would take pressure off those stations.”
Among the residents supporting the proposal is Gregory Smith, who has lived in Burlington since 1957 and now drives a school bus for C & W Transportation.
“The town needs a substation because of the tremendous growth, which will extend into the 2030s and 2040s,” Smith said.
More background
The area is already served by several substations: Burlington has one along Middlesex Turnpike, while Woburn has stations near Horn Pond in the southern part of the city and in North Woburn.
When substations get too crowded, utilities can have a harder time reliably serving homes and businesses during periods of high demand. Adding capacity can ease pressure on older infrastructure, improve resilience, and make it easier to connect cleaner energy resources over time.
Residents are also watching how the project could affect the immediate neighborhood. Smith said Eversource should address drainage so nearby properties avoid flooding during major rain or fast snow events.
What’s being done?
Eversource said the Burlington substation falls under its Electric Sector Modernization Plan, a 10-year effort to modernize the electric grid and help meet Massachusetts’ climate goals.
To gather feedback, the company has hosted the library open house and gone door to door along Winn Street to speak with neighboring residents. Kea encouraged people to take part whether they support the project, oppose it, or are still undecided.
That kind of input could shape the final outcome, especially on neighborhood concerns such as stormwater management, site design, and construction impacts.
The schedule remains tentative, but construction could begin in 2028, and the substation could enter service in 2030 if approvals are secured. Eversource said those dates are approximate and subject to change.
Where can I learn more?
Burlington’s substation proposal is part of a much larger conversation about how utilities add capacity, update older equipment, and keep up with rising demand for electricity.
• In Georgia, utilities are adding a next-gen storage project to relieve strain during peak demand.
• Baker Hughes and Frontier Infrastructure are pursuing a direct, reliable power solution for energy-hungry operations.
• In Puerto Rico, Luma Energy’s proposed new fee for solar customers is fueling grid policy debate.
• On Cape Cod, one homeowner said a mini-split and net metering left him ahead on power.
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