| AGENDA ITEM #: 9. DATE: 03/01/2021 CAR #: {ud_fi4} |
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CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: | APS THREE RIVERS 230 KV TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT |
| STAFF PRESENTER(S): | Sumeet Mohan, P.E. Director of Engineering |
OTHER PRESENTER(S):
None
SUMMARY:
Arizona Public Service Company (APS) has completed a year-long public participation process and has finalized their route options. This project is to connect the new Three Rivers Substation, located near Bullard Avenue and Van Buren Street, to the existing power line along the Agua Fria River in Avondale, to support Goodyear’s growth.
Recommendation:
Approve the preferred route as reflected in Exhibit 2 attached hereto and the two alternative routes as reflected in Exhibits 3 and 4 attached hereto for the 230 kV Transmission Lines, that APS plans to bring before the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee in April 2021. (Sumeet Mohan, P.E. Director of Engineering)
FISCAL IMPACT:
This action is not expected to have any fiscal impact on our budget.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS:
In February 2020, APS announced the need for new electrical infrastructure to serve a new data center, located near Bullard Avenue and Van Buren Street, in Goodyear. APS held public open house meetings on February 19 and 20, 2020, in Goodyear and Avondale, to explain the purpose and need for this project, answer questions, discuss potential routes for the power lines, and solicit input from all who attended. APS evaluated environmental impacts, engineering and construction feasibility, land acquisition timing and costs, potential impacts to existing and planned neighborhoods and businesses and input from agencies and the public. Those studies led to APS identifying seven preliminary alternative routes, as shown in Exhibit 1.
Between July 1 and August 1, 2020, APS held its first virtual open house for public input and participation. The open house was very well received, with APS receiving four times more comments than previously received in the traditional open house format for the 230kV project. Highlights of the public participation process were:
In late September 2020, as the routes were being narrowed, the City of Goodyear staff and APS met to review the alternative route alignments. At that meeting, the City staff raised a concern regarding a segment of APS’ proposed route running near and along the east side of the City of Goodyear property, near 145th Ave and Van Buren. City staff discussed the option of realigning this segment to the west, along 145th Avenue, keeping it further away from the nearby Regional Wireless Cooperative radio tower, and also aligning it closer to a new and upcoming data center project. APS re-analyzed this option and confirmed with their planners the potential need for transmission lines in the 145th Ave alignment, to serve this new data center project. Based on the City staff’s suggested location for the lines to be better positioned for the new data center, APS concurred that realigning the route along 145th Avenue would be a better option.
APS has completed their review of all the public comments, including City of Goodyear’s. APS is planning to file an application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) for this project with the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee in April of 2021. APS has identified their preferred route and two alternative routes that they plan to bring before the Siting Committee to seek their approval for the CEC for the preferred transmission line route. The attached maps in Exhibits 2, 3 and 4 reflect this change for each of the 3 alternatives.
APS has now reached out to the various stakeholders (Goodyear, Avondale, ADOT, Maricopa County Flood Control, FAA, etc.) to review these routes and provide any final comments.
Between July 1 and August 1, 2020, APS held its first virtual open house for public input and participation. The open house was very well received, with APS receiving four times more comments than previously received in the traditional open house format for the 230kV project. Highlights of the public participation process were:
- 77,000 people received electronic notification of the event.
- 30,000 paper newsletters were mailed.
- 2,000 visited the open house.
- 17 responded to the questionnaire.
In late September 2020, as the routes were being narrowed, the City of Goodyear staff and APS met to review the alternative route alignments. At that meeting, the City staff raised a concern regarding a segment of APS’ proposed route running near and along the east side of the City of Goodyear property, near 145th Ave and Van Buren. City staff discussed the option of realigning this segment to the west, along 145th Avenue, keeping it further away from the nearby Regional Wireless Cooperative radio tower, and also aligning it closer to a new and upcoming data center project. APS re-analyzed this option and confirmed with their planners the potential need for transmission lines in the 145th Ave alignment, to serve this new data center project. Based on the City staff’s suggested location for the lines to be better positioned for the new data center, APS concurred that realigning the route along 145th Avenue would be a better option.
APS has completed their review of all the public comments, including City of Goodyear’s. APS is planning to file an application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) for this project with the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee in April of 2021. APS has identified their preferred route and two alternative routes that they plan to bring before the Siting Committee to seek their approval for the CEC for the preferred transmission line route. The attached maps in Exhibits 2, 3 and 4 reflect this change for each of the 3 alternatives.
APS has now reached out to the various stakeholders (Goodyear, Avondale, ADOT, Maricopa County Flood Control, FAA, etc.) to review these routes and provide any final comments.
STAFF ANALYSIS
APS has cooperated with the City of Goodyear in this process. Staff is comfortable with APS’ selected routes – preferred and alternates. Now, we are seeking Council’s approval.
Attachments
- Exhibit 1: Originally proposed 7 Alternative Routes
- Exhibit 2: Preferred Alternative shown as the blue line.
- Exhibit 3: Project Alternative 1 shown as the green line.
- Exhibit 4: Project Alternative 2 shown as the orange line.
- Presentation