By Mike Pesce & Ron Lanzillotta, The Pesce & Lanzillotta Group, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Laffey International Realty

In mid-October we walked through what the state's approval of Propel NY Energy means for Syosset, Muttontown, Upper Brookville and Old Brookville. Since then, the project has hit a permitting snag, three school districts that serve our towns have formally asked regulators to reconsider, and the expected construction start has gotten harder to pin down.

If you own a home near the route, or you're shopping in these towns, here's what's new and what's still unsettled.

A Key Water-Quality Permit Was Rescinded

Newsday reported that on Monday, October 19, the state Department of Public Service rescinded the water-quality certification it had issued for Propel on October 2. In a filing, Jason Zehr, interim executive director of the department's Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission, wrote, "I hereby rescind the certification."

The department described the move as administrative. In a statement, it said the certification application "had not been filed on the public docket for the project," and it directed the developers to file it there to "promote transparency in the record." The certification matters because it relates to the work planned in the water, from Hempstead Harbor out to Long Island Sound, where the cable is designed to cross toward Westchester.

The New York Power Authority, which is developing Propel with New York Transco, told Newsday it would refile and did not expect the change to affect the construction timeline. Propel is also still waiting on a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its work in those same waters.

Syosset, Roslyn and North Shore Schools Seek a Rehearing

The Syosset, Roslyn and North Shore school districts filed a joint request for rehearing of the Public Service Commission's September 17 approval, along with a request for an immediate stay. According to Newsday, the filing says the approval contains "errors of fact and law" and fails to meaningfully address the impacts the districts raised during the two-year case.

They aren't alone. The Village of Sea Cliff and the Iroquois Gas Transmission System, which operates gas lines in Long Island Sound, also filed for rehearing.

Six Districts, Including Manhasset and Garden City, Speak Out

On October 29, superintendents and board members held a press conference in Glenwood Landing, at the North Shore district's bus facility near where the cable is planned to come ashore. The Garden City, Hicksville and Manhasset school districts joined Syosset, Roslyn and North Shore. Together, the districts say they serve more than 25,000 students.

The districts say they take no position on the need for the project. Their concerns are construction traffic during morning drop-off and afternoon dismissal, driveway access, emergency-vehicle response, noise and dust near classrooms, and questions about electric and magnetic fields.

Syosset Superintendent Dr. Thomas Rogers asked regulators to limit construction near schools, and the roads that serve them, to the summer months. Garden City Superintendent Dr. Kusum Sinha said the commission "needs to explain how the spaces outside our schools will be kept safe during any construction period." Manhasset Interim Superintendent Dr. Christopher Pellettieri said the district needs "a clear guarantee" that construction won't compromise student safety or add traffic risk at arrival and dismissal.

What Propel Says

Propel says the commission already weighed these concerns, including student safety, traffic and electric and magnetic fields, before granting its approval. A spokeswoman told the Long Island Press that the project's developers have "spent years engaging with schools" on ways to reduce temporary construction impacts.

The project's most concrete commitment for school neighborhoods: on weekdays when schools are in session, construction within 300 feet of a school facility will be limited to 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Propel also says it meets New York's standards for electric and magnetic fields and will take measurements after construction to confirm compliance.

When Will Construction Start?

That depends on who you ask and when. On October 20, NYPA told Newsday it still expected construction to begin in December. On October 29, Propel officials told News 12 that construction could begin as early as spring 2027.

Meanwhile, Propel has posted updated construction plans: an updated Phase I Environmental Management and Construction Plan dated October 9, and an updated Phase II plan dated October 16. These are the documents that spell out how and where work happens, segment by segment. Before any sale or purchase near the route, check the latest versions.

What This Means for Buyers and Sellers

  • Buyers: If a home is near the Syosset-to-Shore Road segment (South Woods Road, Syosset-Woodbury Road, Cold Spring Road, Muttontown Eastwoods Road, Route 106, Northern Boulevard or Cedar Swamp Road), or near a school the route passes, ask what phase that stretch falls in and what the current plan says about timing. Drive the morning school run before you commit.
  • Sellers: Buyers will ask. Be ready with a calm, accurate answer: the project is approved, the approval is being challenged, and street-level timing is still being worked out. Disclose what you know and point buyers to the public filings.
  • Everyone: The rehearing requests, the refiled water-quality application and the Army Corps permit are the next milestones to watch. The case is PSC Case 24-T-0446.

"When a big infrastructure project is in the news, the families we work with mostly want someone to sort out what's settled and what isn't. That's how we approach Propel with buyers and sellers in Syosset, Muttontown, the Brookvilles, Manhasset and Garden City. If you have questions about a home near the route, or about how it might affect your plans, call Mike or me. We're always glad to talk it through."

— Ron Lanzillotta, The Pesce & Lanzillotta Group

Thinking About Buying or Selling on the North Shore?

Whether you're listing in Syosset, shopping in Muttontown or the Brookvilles, or comparing Manhasset and Garden City, Mike and Ron can walk you through recent sales, what buyers are asking about, and how to factor news like Propel into a sensible plan. Reach Mike Pesce or Ron Lanzillotta at 516.888.9711 or info@pl-team.com.

Mike Pesce & Ron Lanzillotta, The Pesce & Lanzillotta Group | Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Laffey International Realty | 8223 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury | 516.888.9711 | info@pl-team.com

Explore North Shore homes and local guides

Syosset, Muttontown, Upper Brookville, Old Brookville, Manhasset and Garden City.

Read our U.S. News 2027 school rankings update, start a home valuation with your address, or contact Mike and Ron.

Sources

Published November 3, 2026. Project schedules and approvals may change; consult current public filings for street-level details.

Photo credits

Syosset High School, Syosset, New York. Photo: AITFFan1 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Extracted from the supplied article, resized and compressed; may be cropped for display.