PW-SEV/BRG 500kV project backgroundBelow is some background on the Pinal West to Southeast Valley/Browning 500kV transmission project, including construction information, schedules, requests for reconsideration, hearings and transcripts, and more. About the projectThe Pinal West to Southeast Valley/Browning project (PW-SEV/BRG) is composed of new 500 kilovolt (kV) and 230 kV transmission lines and substations that will serve Pinal, Pima and Maricopa Counties. The project is planned jointly by the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District (SRP), Tucson Electric Power Company, Electrical District Number 2, Electrical District Number 3, Electrical District Number 4, and Southwest Transmission Cooperative Inc. The project is managed by SRP. The project involves:
Construction schedule
ACC approves SRP's request for 230kV/500kV consolidationOn Dec. 8, 2006, the Arizona Corporation Commission issued an Order (Decision No. 69183) approving SRP's request to construct a 230kV circuit on the 500kV structures to be built along the Pinal West to Southeast Valley certificated route in Casa Grande. Specifically, SRP will add a 230kV circuit to the 500kV structures at a point on Cornman Road near the intersection with Thornton Road and continue east along the route to the future Pinal Central (formerly Pinal South) substation. The request was made in compliance with Condition 23 of the Pinal West to Southeast Valley CEC (Decision No. 68093). The 230kV circuit is part of the planned Desert Basin 230kV Power Line Project. SRP was awarded a CEC application for the portion of the Desert Basin 230kV Power Line Project exiting the Desert Basin Generating Station and continuing south for approximately six miles to intersect with the 500kV corridor. Find out more about the Desert Basin 230kV project.
SRP submits compliance filing for PW-SEV/BRG 500kV project conditionView SRP's Aug. 11, 2006 filing:
SRP provided a public notice of this request to landowners located within the allowed corridor along the certificated route from the intersection of Burris and Cornman Roads to the future Pinal Central (formerly Pinal South) Substation. View the public notice and ACC's approved route map.
Requests for reconsiderationSince the CEC was approved by the ACC, four requests for reconsideration were submitted. On Sept. 28, 2005 the ACC held a special open meeting for the purpose of considering the four Applications for Rehearing of Decision No. 68093. The Pulte Homes' Application for Rehearing/Reconsideration was the only application discussed at the meeting. The other applications were deemed denied due to lapse of time. View the requests:
Following discussion of the Pulte Application for Rehearing/Reconsideration, the Commissioners voted unanimously to grant the Pulte application and to consider the request for an expanded corridor width for the area from Node 81 south to the northern bank of the Gila River at a future ACC meeting to be determined. The Commissioners requested that Pulte and interested parties file a brief with the ACC clarifying their position on the Pulte request within 10 days. View the briefs filed in the Pulte request for reconsideration:
The ACC held a special open meeting Nov. 9, 2005 at which the Commission voted unanimously on the Pulte request for reconsideration of the CEC decision. The amended decision extends the 500kV transmission line corridor width to a half mile on the east side of the centerline of the Valley Farms/Cooper Road section line, but for only the area that is north of the state land to the Union Pacific Railroad. Pulte's original request was to expand the corridor width to include the state land as well as the land located south of the state land to the north side of the Gila River.
Hearings conductedLine Siting Committee hearings 2004-05
On May 10, 2005, the siting committee recommended a CEC for the project.
Arizona Corporation Committee hearings
The ACC voted unanimously to confirm a CEC for the project on Aug. 16, 2005.
Route tours completedA tour of the Area A route was conducted on Jan. 20 (view a tour map - 211K PDF*). A tour of Area B was conducted March 2 (view a tour map - 1MB PDF*). A tour of Area C, Option 1 was conducted March 29 (view a tour map - 8.7 MB PDF*) Hearing transcriptsCopies of transcripts from the following CEC hearings can be viewed at the Casa Grande Public Library:
The library is located at 449 N. Dry Lake in Casa Grande.
CEC applicationOn Oct. 7, 2004, SRP submitted an application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) for the Pinal West to Southeast Valley/Browning (PW-SEV/BRG) project. You can view selected parts of the application online:
A complete copy of the application, including detailed maps of the proposed project, is on file with Docket Control Center of the Arizona Corporation Commission at: Arizona Corporation Commission Copies of the application are also available for inspection at the following locations:
Detailed project maps View the most recent maps of the PW-SEV/BRG project below in PDF* format. For closer detail, please use the magnifying glass icon centered at top of the map to zoom in.
Study area: The maps below show maps of the larger study area including both the PV-PW and PW-SEV/BRG projects.
Project originAs a result of the Central Arizona Transmission System (CATS) Study, new power transmission capacity is planned for central Arizona. A study of regional scope was collaboratively prepared by 18 public and private utility companies, with participation by the Arizona Corporation Commission. The objective of CATS is to analyze system reliability, capacity and increasing demand for energy delivery in Arizona, and to plan for any additional required transmission. The project began as one but was divided into two projects, Palo Verde to Pinal West (PV-PW) and Pinal West to Southeast Valley/Browning (PW-SEV/BRG).
Siting and public processAn extensive siting process was conducted for the PV-PW and PW-SEV/BRG projects to determine the most appropriate location for each within an approximate 2000-square-mile study area (534K PDF). View the project timeline. History of Public Meetings for PV-PW and PW-SEV/BRG 500kV Projects
Visit the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) Web site for answers to frequently asked questions about transmission line siting.
EMF informationElectromagnetic fields (EMF): Please visit one of the following Web sites for more information about EMF:
Contact usIf you have questions or comments about the project, please contact us. E-mail: Send questions to webmaster@azpower.org. Telephone: Call SRP Public Involvement at (602) 236-2872 or (800) 380-6123 Information request form: For questions about the project, complete our online request for information form.
*To view PDF files, you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader if you don't have it. It is free and you will only need to download it once. Then, return to this page to view the report sections and maps. |
