PUC Docket No. 36995
Oncor filed its application on May 22, 2009, requesting approval to construct a proposed 345 kV transmission line in Bell, Milam and Robertson Counties, Texas. The project will be approximately 41 miles long and is estimated to be energized in May 2011. The proposed transmission line will connect the new Oncor Bell County East Switching Station located southeast of Temple to the existing TNP One Switching Station located at the TNP One generating plant, on the east side of State Highway 6, south of Bremond. Oncor proposes to use double-circuit lattice steel towers that are typically 120 feet tall. The proposed line will be located in a rural area that contains primarily agricultural lands. The estimated cost of the project is $60,690,000.
Oncor claims that the construction of the proposed transmission line will add necessary significant transmission capacity and alleviate potential overloads. In its application, Oncor states that there are two main 345 kV transmission corridors between north and south Texas. The western corridor essentially parallels I-35 from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to San Antonio. With the addition of a Clear Springs to Salado 345 kV double circuit line in 2011, there will be two 345 kV double circuit lines in the western corridor except between Waco and Temple, where there is still only one 345 kV double circuit line. This single circuit causes what is known as congestion when high levels of transfer of electricity from north to south are taking place. The eastern corridor parallels I-45 from the Metroplex to Houston and has two 345 kV double circuit lines for the entire distance. The addition of 3 generation plants and the loss of an Alcoa 500 MW load increases the need for north to south and north to south transfer capacity. Oncor claims that the proposed project will alleviate some transfer of power that result in overloads and provide additional transmission to TNP One, relieving some of the pressure on lines into Houston from the north.
Oncor retained an engineering firm to prepare its Environmental Assessment and Alternative Route Analysis. The firm identified 28 preliminary links that formed 31 possible alternative routes. After public meetings were held, modifications were made to some lines and new links created to minimize potential impacts based on the public meeting comments. In total, 62 alternative routes were evaluated. Oncor’s application provides detailed information about the evaluation of the routes. The summary information includes such items as: length of route, length of route parallel to existing transmission lines, highways, pipelines, railroads, and property boundaries; length of route through commercial areas, pastures, cropland, forest and wetlands; number of habitable structures within 500 feet of a route; and cost of constructing the route.
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