[MassHistPres] High voltage transmission line in a Historic District

[Pierre A. Humblet]

The Royalston Local Historic District is bisected by a 69kV transmission 
line.
The 50-60 ft high towers date from 1909 and are not too obtrusive thanks 
to the vegetation.
Now there is a plan to replace them with a new design, up to 116 ft 
high, to support 115kV.

Towers are obviously structures and as such they would fall within the 
jurisdiction of the local Historic District Commission.
The HDC is wondering if there are other laws or regulations that would 
allow the power company or the State to bypass the HDC.

Have other Historic District faced similar issues ?
If so, what were the processes and the outcomes?
Any advice?

I could not find similar cases in the archives of the list.

Thank you

Pierre Humblet
Royalston HDC secretary