Neighbors rally to revise REA power line path

By Dan MacArthur
North Forty News

Resisting residents will have to settle for assurances that alternative routes will be considered by the utility building a new power line from Richards Lake Road to Waverly.

That's because county government has no authority to influence the course that Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association ultimately chooses for the high-voltage line.

Tri-State is constructing the power line for the Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association, which maintains that it is necessary to meet increasing demand and provide greater reliability in the area. Construction of the $10.5 million transmission line is expected to begin late this year or in early 2009, with completion in the summer or fall of that year.

The 115,000-kilovolt line currently is proposed to parallel the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway tracks starting from the substation just south of Richards Lake Road. It would proceed north about 2.5 miles to County Road 56 and then almost 3.5 miles west. There it would continue two miles north to the Waverly substation along the path of the current 69-kilovolt transmission line, which would be replaced to handle the greater capacity.

That proposed path was one of five options. In the others, the power line still would run beside the railroad tracks to Richards Lake Road, Douglas Road or farther north to CR 60 before proceeding west to the Waverly substation.

"There is no perfect route. There is a route that's less objectionable," PVREA engineering manager Jim Byrne told those attending a carefully choreographed open house. A legion of Tri-State staff in crisp oxford logo shirts assembled around information stations focusing on various aspects of the project.

But participants in the January event found plenty to object about. They insisted on a collective session to pelt the powder-blue-clad crew with questions and comments - principally about visual pollution and potential health effects resulting from the line's proximity to their homes.

Consultant Robert Pearson maintained that some 10,000 studies, including those conducted by the national academies of science and health, have found no evidence of health risks associated with electromagnetic fields.

"The bottom line is this line will not cause any health effects," he said. "You're being exposed to more in your homes than you are here."

"It sounds like this is being shoved down our throats," said Richard Folot, who farms off CR 60. "What about the health issue? I'm going to sleep next to that line. Do you have proof, or are you just blowing smoke?"

"I've got 10,000 studies behind me," Pearson reaffirmed.

"I'm telling you right now, I'm not going to sleep under that dirty son-of-a-gun," countered an unconvinced Folot.

Barry Feldman later expressed similar skepticism, calling Pearson's absolute statement an absurd assertion no prudent person would make. An owner of property in the line's path, he helped organize opposition to the project among neighbors in the area.

Feldman also challenged Tri-State's adamant insistence that it would not bury the transmission line. "I don't get the part about burying them," he said. "They bury them everywhere."

Permitting and land rights manager Mark Murray said Tri-State will not underground a radial line because the cost is 10 times greater and the utility lacks its own specially trained crew required to make quick repairs. He said a line was buried in the Weld County community of Firestone only because the town agreed to pick up the cost differential.

"I can't believe you have so many poles," exclaimed Barbara Cohen. "Do you realize what that does to the beauty of the area?"

The line, which distributes electricity generated by Tri-State facilities in Wyoming and northwestern Colorado, would be mounted on wood or steel poles from 65 to 90 feet tall, depending on the terrain. The poles would be located from 400 to 800 feet apart, depending on the types of poles used. A 75-foot right of way would be required, except along county roads where a 40.5-foot easement is necessary.

"Let the developers figure how to get this out there. We don't need this," continued Cohen, Feldman's wife.

"Poudre Valley isn't in the business of building lines just to build them," responded Byrne.

He said the line would accommodate growth at the same time it provides better service and reliability to existing customers. "You can't separate the two," he said.

Based on the comments and suggestions received during the open house, the Tri-State staff agreed to meet with residents in an effort to find a more suitable path for the power line before the utility applies to Larimer County early this year for a construction permit.

Once Tri-State files its application, principal planner Rob Helmick said, a "location and extent" review would be scheduled before the county planning commission. The review would assess whether the proposal is consistent with the county's master plan.

Helmick acknowledged that Tri-State could ignore the planning commission's recommendation. Still, Helmick said, the review has value in creating a dialogue between public entities in an effort to address broader issues.

The elected county commissioners have no authority to review location and extent applications.