Under AVANGRID’s STAR (Southern Tier Area Reliability) initiative, two transmission lines—labelled 961 and 962—spanning approximately 52 miles, will undergo significant upgrades to improve grid capacity and reliability. The Southern Tier Transmission Upgrade is more than just a project—it’s a critical step toward modernizing New York’s energy infrastructure and supporting the state’s clean energy strategy.
C.T. Male has secured Coates Field Service Incorporated (Coates) as a client to assist in their work on the STAR initiative. Matt Wilson, Project Manager, explains our partnership with Coates, work that is currently driving this effort in its early stage: “Coates are what you call a land title agent. They are responsible for recovering deeds and performing title research going back 80 years, ensuring AVANGRID’s transmission corridor is legally clear. This collaboration reduces risk and accelerates progress, allowing our survey teams to focus on technical execution.”
Our firm, as a subcontractor to Coates, is delivering right-of-way surveys and encroachment mapping—critical inputs for AVANGRID’s design and construction planning. Field operations are extensive: “Teams of surveyors are walking the survey line with GPS equipment mapping everything they find,” Wilson noted. Crews are working in two-person teams, spending up to a week at a time in the field, leveraging Trimble Connect software for real-time data transfer.
Wilson reflects on the broader impact: “Well, the project represents a truly meaningful contribution to infrastructure modernization in our state. “This is how people keep their lights on,” he added. “There’s a sense of pride in it. Knowing that I had something to do with it—it’s nice.”
This engagement demonstrates the dedication of our field teams, and the positive impact we aim to have on the communities around us.