Segment C - Mona to Oquirrh
Project Overview
Within the overall Energy Gateway expansion area, Northern Utah represents the fastest growing area in Utah and one of the major growth areas within the region. New transmission lines and substations are necessary to provide additional capacity to serve the growing electrical demand of customers and to improve reliability and operational flexibility of the electrical system. These additional transmission facilities are also needed to prepare for future generation resources.
On behalf of PacifiCorp, we are committed to providing safe, reliable and efficient power. To do so, the company has proposed a project to establish a new high-voltage transmission line and two new substations in Utah. The project originates at the Clover substation to be built near Mona in Juab County. A single-circuit 500/345-kilovolt line will run north to the site of the future Limber substation in Tooele County. From the Limber substation, the voltage will be stepped down and a double circuit 345-kilovolt line will be built connecting to the existing Oquirrh substation in West Jordan. Planned and permitted as part of this project but for future construction is a double-circuit 345-kilovolt line connecting the future Limber substation with the Terminal substation in Salt Lake City.
Project Timeline
- Public Scoping – October 2007
- Environmental Impact Study process – October 2007-February 2011
- Informational meetings – August 2007 – project completion
- Permitting and obtaining rights of way – August 2009-2011
- Construction – mid-2011 - May 2013
- Estimated final in-service for customers – May 2013
Additional Information About the Project
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has completed the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process for the Mona to Oquirrh project, and notification was published Feb. 10, 2011 in the Federal Register. On Feb. 4, 2011 the BLM signed the Record of Decision and the easement for the right of way across federal lands. The company's right of way application through federal lands for this project began in fall 2007 with public scoping meetings. The draft EIS was published May 15, 2009. The BLM then conducted a public comment period for 90 days. During this time, meetings were held by both the company and the BLM to collect feedback on the draft EIS. Visit the BLM Web site for more information on this process.
The current project that will be constructed is approximately 100 miles long. In order to determine a final route, more than 450 miles of possible routes were studied. This analysis considered the extensive public input received during the planning process. It also considered environmentally sensitive areas, wildlife habitat, landowner requests, local business needs, customer growth, and project needs for construction and ongoing maintenance, along with the cost impact to customers. Multiple route adjustments were driven by these considerations, and led to the BLM determination of the environmentally preferred route as well as adjustments through private lands. Also, an additional 46-mile segment for later construction between the Limber substation and the Terminal substation was studied as part of the possible routes and was permitted through the EIS process.
Conditional use permits for the project have been obtained in all applicable cities and counties. The certificate of public convenience and necessity has also been issued by the Utah Public Service Commission.
On Feb. 14, 2011, the company announced the selection of EC Source as the contractor to build this project. Vendors/suppliers interested in working on the project can contact EC Source at bsoper@ecsourceservices.com, or www.ecsourceservices.com.
Public Participation
Public input and involvement is an important part of the transmission line development process. Project materials and newsletters [PDF] were sent to nearly 10,000 landowners and interested parties. Also, our company and the BLM held six open house meetings in June 2009 as part of the environmental review process for the project. Those meetings were held in Tooele, Nephi, West Jordan and Magna, Utah. Meetings also were held in August 2009 with various interested parties in Tooele for further input on routing issues. Additional meetings have been held throughout the process with local communities, federal and state agencies as well as with interested third parties.
Additional information about this segment, including the fact sheet (PDF) and project map (PDF) will be posted on this web site as the project moves forward.
To contact us about this project, please call 801-220-4221 or email ConstructionProjects@pacificorp.com. Please be sure to include the project name - "Mona to Oquirrh" - in your inquiry.
(Updated January 24, 2012)