MEDIA ADVISORY
Committee recommends new power line
East Valley transmission project will improve electric reliability
The Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee has recommended that SRP be granted a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) for its Abel-Moody 230-kilovolt (230kV) Transmission Line Project. The Siting Committee reached its decision Wednesday following eight days of testimony, discussion and debate.
The Siting Committee's recommendation now goes to the five-member Arizona Corporation Commission for a final vote later this year.
The Abel-Moody Project consists of a new 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line connecting two planned SRP substations as well as a proposed 25-acre substation in the Queen Creek area.
The new 230kV power line will initially connect the Abel Substation, located near the intersection of Judd and Attaway roads southeast of Queen Creek, with the Schrader-to-Santan 230kV transmission line near the Moody Substation, located near Recker and Pecos roads in Gilbert. As part of the project, a new 230/69kV substation will be built north of the intersection of Combs and Meridian roads and south of Queen Creek Wash.
If a certificate is granted, SRP expects to complete construction within the term of the CEC, although the construction start date is still being considered.
The Abel-Moody Project would improve SRP's ability to keep pace with current and future electrical demands in Queen Creek and northern Pinal County. The project would also provide greater reliability for SRP customers by adding the infrastructure necessary to bring additional supplies of energy to the region.
The total project, including the development of the new substation, is anticipated to cost about $60 million.
The proposed routes for the transmission line were selected after an extensive public process that included a series of open houses in Queen Creek and locations in northern Pinal County. Notices and newsletters with information about the project and the public open houses also were sent to more than 64,000 addresses within the project study area. The route selected at the conclusion of this process is included in the permit application with the ACC, and is available to view online.
SRP is the largest provider of electricity in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, serving about 935,000 customers in Maricopa and Pinal counties.
