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SRP mulls route for 20 miles of power lines in Q.C. area
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The state's largest electric utility is attempting to select a route for high-voltage transmission lines that would power the south East Valley.
Q.C. officials urge northern route for SRP lines
Placement of new Q.C. power lines worries some
Salt River Project's Abel-Moody project would be a 20-mile, 230-kilovolt transmission line project that would start north of Florence and extend near Pecos and Recker roads in Gilbert via Queen Creek.
Several routes are still on the table, but one that is garnering support from Pinal County and Queen Creek officials is still under discussion by Mesa because of the project's proximity to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
A route that could run north along Meridian Road and then head east on Germann Road is a red flag for the airport, said Brian Sexton, spokesman for the airport.
"When it's over 150 feet in height ... that's when it starts to become an obstacle by (Federal Aviation Administration) standards," he said.
Queen Creek officials have put their support behind the alignment because it would steer the power lines, ranging from 130 feet to 154 feet high, away from the town's center and residential areas.
Pinal County, meanwhile, wants to avoid a more southern route running east to west along Riggs Road because of the residential developments already there, said Tom Novy, project manager for SRP.But the end of the public process is near. Two public meetings are planned: one at 5 p.m. Nov. 12 at Payne Junior High School, 7655 S. Higley Road, Queen Creek; the next 5 p.m. Nov. 13 at Queen Creek Middle School, 20435 S. Ellsworth Road.
After those meetings, SRP will discuss a few alternative routes with a committee of the Arizona Corporation Commission. The utility is looking to find an alternative that everyone can agree on and that can be recommended to the commission.
"That carries a lot of weight and saves everyone a lot of time," Novy said.
The utility plans to have the project built by the summer of 2012. Projections show that the south East Valley will need more capacity to transmit electricity by that time.
The 230-kilovolt lines will be linked to three substations: one north of Florence, one in Gilbert and one yet to be sited near Queen Creek.
The substations will allow lower-power electrical lines to serve the growing number of houses in the area. "The reason for the project is to bring in bulk power to the center in the area that we're serving," Novy said.
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