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March 24-26 hearing set over disputed power line
By Dana Cole/wick communications
SIERRA VISTA - The Arizona Corporation Commission will be holding a hearing to discuss the possibility of expediting the construction of a proposed power line for the Elgin, Sonoita and Patagonia areas.
The 69kV line came under attack by residents because of its route through the Babocomari Ranch, an area the line's opponents say is rich in biodiversity. They have appeared before the commission and expressed concerns about the environmental impact the line could have on the area, and they object to its cost, which is about $13.5 million. They believe Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, the utility building the 69kV line, should be exploring renewable energy alternatives that could save ratepayers money.
The utility hired a company to conduct a feasibility study to look into the line's potential environmental impact, as well as an alternative route and renewable energy options. According to the utility, the study's findings "supported the line by a landslide." But those who oppose it feel key points were extracted from the study by the cooperative, resulting in a misleading summary report by the utility.
Now that the study is completed, the commission is granting a hearing to consider expediting the line's construction, which had been on hold because of public outcry against it.
The hearing will begin at 1 p.m. on March 24 and 25 and at 10 a.m. on March 26 in Tucson at 400 W. Congress St., Room 222, with Administrative Law Judge Jane Rodda presiding.
"On the first day, residents can give public comment at the beginning of the hearing," said Rebecca Wilder, spokeswoman for the commission. Those interested in speaking should arrive early to fill out a public comment slip so the judge knows they wish to speak.
After the public comment, the different parties will present their cases, to include testimony and questions from the judge.
"We are going to keep people in our service area informed about this issue, and are expecting to have people at this hearing," said Jack Blair, the utility's member services manager. "Our members will be receiving a letter about this, plus we're placing ads in the newspaper." Blair says customers are upset about the amount of money the cooperative has been forced to spend on such extraneous projects as the feasibility study and a steady stream of hearings as they fight for the power line.
"This is money that our members pay for through their rates," he said.
Sonoita resident Gail Getzwiller, one of the line's opponents, says she and other people who have concerns about the proposed project are compiling more information for the hearing. Additionally, she says the utility's feasibility study has identified archaeologically significant areas in the line's vicinity, something she feels should be reviewed in more detail by the commission.
"SSVEC's motion for a hearing to expedite the 69kV line building process has been granted by the ACC," Getzwiller said. "We've been asking for more data information from SSVEC so we can build our case as far as renewable energy is concerned."
Getzwiller says her group expects to save the cooperative and its members $10 million through some of the renewable energy proposals the group wants considered. "Our proposal is better for the environment, the area's ecosystem and the ratepayers."
But Blair says the cooperative has already investigated all of the alternatives and "has found that none of them will be as effective as the proposed line. In addition, the independent, third-party feasibility study supports the line's construction as the most economically feasible solution for providing reliable service to that area," he added. "ACC staff and the administrative law judge support the study's results, and feel we need to get started on the line as quickly as possible."
The 69kV line came under attack by residents because of its route through the Babocomari Ranch, an area the line's opponents say is rich in biodiversity. They have appeared before the commission and expressed concerns about the environmental impact the line could have on the area, and they object to its cost, which is about $13.5 million. They believe Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, the utility building the 69kV line, should be exploring renewable energy alternatives that could save ratepayers money.
The utility hired a company to conduct a feasibility study to look into the line's potential environmental impact, as well as an alternative route and renewable energy options. According to the utility, the study's findings "supported the line by a landslide." But those who oppose it feel key points were extracted from the study by the cooperative, resulting in a misleading summary report by the utility.
Now that the study is completed, the commission is granting a hearing to consider expediting the line's construction, which had been on hold because of public outcry against it.
The hearing will begin at 1 p.m. on March 24 and 25 and at 10 a.m. on March 26 in Tucson at 400 W. Congress St., Room 222, with Administrative Law Judge Jane Rodda presiding.
"On the first day, residents can give public comment at the beginning of the hearing," said Rebecca Wilder, spokeswoman for the commission. Those interested in speaking should arrive early to fill out a public comment slip so the judge knows they wish to speak.
After the public comment, the different parties will present their cases, to include testimony and questions from the judge.
"We are going to keep people in our service area informed about this issue, and are expecting to have people at this hearing," said Jack Blair, the utility's member services manager. "Our members will be receiving a letter about this, plus we're placing ads in the newspaper." Blair says customers are upset about the amount of money the cooperative has been forced to spend on such extraneous projects as the feasibility study and a steady stream of hearings as they fight for the power line.
"This is money that our members pay for through their rates," he said.
Sonoita resident Gail Getzwiller, one of the line's opponents, says she and other people who have concerns about the proposed project are compiling more information for the hearing. Additionally, she says the utility's feasibility study has identified archaeologically significant areas in the line's vicinity, something she feels should be reviewed in more detail by the commission.
"SSVEC's motion for a hearing to expedite the 69kV line building process has been granted by the ACC," Getzwiller said. "We've been asking for more data information from SSVEC so we can build our case as far as renewable energy is concerned."
Getzwiller says her group expects to save the cooperative and its members $10 million through some of the renewable energy proposals the group wants considered. "Our proposal is better for the environment, the area's ecosystem and the ratepayers."
But Blair says the cooperative has already investigated all of the alternatives and "has found that none of them will be as effective as the proposed line. In addition, the independent, third-party feasibility study supports the line's construction as the most economically feasible solution for providing reliable service to that area," he added. "ACC staff and the administrative law judge support the study's results, and feel we need to get started on the line as quickly as possible."
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