Corridors of power

1 comment for this page [ View ]

Residents and utility officials amped up over routes for new lines

OGDEN -- Utahns might be shocked when they see new and taller power lines popping up all over the state this summer, but utilities officials say it's the only way to meet growing demand.

As Utah's population booms and per-capita energy consumption increases, it is necessary to put in new power-transmission infrastructure, said Rocky Mountain Power spokeswoman Margaret Oler.

"Our existing customers are using 26 percent more electricity than they did 20 years ago," she said.

The last time Utah had a major power-transmission improvement project was in the early 1990s, saidBecky Wilson, executive staff director at the Utah Public Service Commission, which regulates public utilities. "It has been quite a long time."

To meet the need, PacifiCorp, Rocky Mountain Power's parent company, announced a $4.1 billion investment in infrastructure improvements across the western United States.

In Utah, projects include new and improved high-voltage lines from southern Idaho to Farr West, from Farr West to Salt Lake City, from West Jordan to Camp Williams, and from Oquirrh to Mona.

Not everyone is pleased with the proposed lines, however.

Willard Mayor Ryan Tingey said he understands the need for the additional infrastructure, but wants Rocky Mountain to consider alternative routes. Willard is already pinned between an interstate highway and five separate power transmission corridors.

In March, Tingey met with Rocky Mountain Power officials, the Public Service Commission and other Box Elder County mayors to find a better path for the project.

He said the mayors pitched two proposals to Rocky Mountain Power last Wednesday.

"I would hope that Rocky Mountain Power carefully considers the two alternatives that the mayors' association and Box Elder County support," he said.

One alternative is for the lines to run through Cache Valley, across Ogden Valley and eventually into Salt Lake County.

Tingey said last Wednesday's meeting went well, but he does not know what Rocky Mountain Power will do.

The Box Elder leg of the project is proving to be the most problematic, Oler said.

Rocky Mountain Power already owns rights of way for most of the other sections, she said, but Box Elder is new territory.

In an earlier interview, she said the company may have to use eminent domain procedures to acquire the easements it needs to complete the project.

Denton John, who lives in Portage, said the high-voltage line will run over his property and might even come within 40 feet of his home. He has been working with Tingey and other concerned citizens to propose alternate routes.

Because of John's work, Rocky Mountain Power has changed its route in the Malad, Idaho, area and in Northern Utah, Oler said. The route has never been solidified, she added, and company engineers are still open for input.

"In that area, we found more and better access roads than we knew of before," she said. "As the route becomes more refined, we can say, 'Here is where the line will go. Here is where the poles will sit.' Then we can have more individual conversations."

The high-voltage lines run through Weber and Davis counties as well, but those sections mainly consist of upgrading transmission poles, Oler said.

West Haven Mayor Brian Melaney said he is not worried about the construction.

"I haven't heard one word of complaint here," he said. "So far, it's a nonissue."

But as plans become more definite for the transmission lines in other areas, conflicts are bound to arise, Wilson said.

The Public Service Commission does not regulate how utility companies implement their projects, but it maintains a board to deal with conflicts between the companies and municipalities, she said.

The Utility Facility Siting Board is made up of Public Service Commissioners Tedy Boyer, Richard Campbell and Ron Allen and two representatives from Utah municipalities -- Bountiful Mayor Joe Johnson and deputy Weber County attorney Monette Hurtado.

The cities and the utility companies can usually work through most of their problems without outside help, Wilson said, and the siting board has met only one time.

Tingey is optimistic that the conflicts in Box Elder won't end up in adjudication or the courts, and Oler says Rocky Mountain Power is committed to gathering input and finding the best possible route for the high-voltage lines.

"These improvements are terribly time-consuming and very expensive," Oler said, "but they are necessary."

Comments

Add a comment...

Name:
Comment:
Security Code:	Type the characters to the left in the box exactly as they appear.
Your IP:	38.103.63.60 This address is recorded for security purposes.