Western decides upgrade, new transmission best for SVS

LAKEWOOD , Colo. —A Dec. 29 Record of Decision, confirmed the preferred alternative in the Final Sacramento Area Voltage Support Environmental Impact Statement, should the SVS project proceed.

Western Area Power Administration determined that its Final SVS EIS, which recommended upgrades to its transmission system in the Sacramento area is the best course of action, should the project continue. Actual construction is contingent on funding.

“New transmission and transmission upgrades are needed to mitigate transmission line overload and reduce the frequency of automatic generation and load curtailment during the summer peak load periods,” said Western’s Administrator Mike Hacskaylo. “It will also help maintain reliability of the interconnected system.”

• Construct a new double-circuit, 230-kV line from O’Banion to Elverta substations

• Realign the existing O’Banion-Elverta line, as well as part of the Cottonwood-Roseville line.

Western considered other alternatives to meet the load growth of the area while avoiding environmental impacts, including constructing a new 46.2-mile line from Elk Grove to Tracy , or taking no action and continue to operate the system with existing lines. However, these alternatives did not meet the load need while limiting environmental impacts.

“Western selected the system upgrade because it provides the maximum load-serving capability, while having relatively few environmental impacts,” explained Loreen McMahon, Western’s project manager for the EIS.

The Federal Register notice announcing Western’s decision is posted on the Web at http://www.wapa.gov/newsroom/pdf/2004/FR12jan69a.pdf .

Western, a Department of Energy Agency, annually markets and transmits more than 10,000 megawatts of power from hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 15 western and central states.