Transmission agency manager answers key questions

Patrick Mealoy, operations manager for the Transmission Agency of Northern California (TANC), answered several questions about the power line project as it affects Cottonwood residents. The agency's plan was hotly contested by many at a May 14 public meeting.

"I recognize that as soon as you put a map out there with lines on it, it looks like this project is a done deal," Mealoy said. "There are going to be additional opportunities for the public to review the plans and provide comments as we move through this process."

<B>How does easment purchasing work?</B>

"TANC would be in negotiations with landowners on a one-by-one basis," Mealoy said. "TANC will aquire an easement to allow the structures and lines to cross parcels and it will be a negotiated price with the landowner to allow for that 200-foot easement and whatever it means to each individual landowner if their parcel has the footprint of a tower on it."

TANC would not seek to purchase the land outright, Mealoy said, adding that easements purchased would be at fair-market value. Estimates, he said, were not immediately available.

<B>What if a landowner is not willing to negotiate?</B>

"That is something we will do our best to avoid. TANC, as a public agency, does have eminent domain rights, but that ties the project up for a long time. It's not a pleasant situation for any of the parties involved. We will do our very best to negotiate with landowners . . . If necessary, (we) have potential alternatives if we're unsuccessful in a certain area with landowners."

<B>What land uses are allowed under transmission lines?</B>

"As long as there's not a permanant structure, there shouldn't be any problems with other land uses.

"From an agricultural standpoint, transmission lines and certain orchard crops do not go well together. Walnuts would be at the high end, but as far as lower crops, there is a fair amount of farming that takes place under our existing 500 kV facility," Mealoy said.

<B>How close can transmission lines be to houses?</B>

"We will not have any permanent structures within our easement," Mealoy said. "California Public Utilities Commission has general order 95 . . . it requires that a 500 kV conductor be at least 15 feet from any structure."

Of the 200-foot easement TANC is seeking for the project, the actual transmission lines take up 60 feet, Mealoy said. That leaves 70 feet of easement on either side of the project.

<B>Will more transmission lines be added later?</B>

"We're attempting to design this project to be a single or double circuit 500-kV line."

Why not upgrade current towers to hold the new lines?

"Upgrading the tower is not a possibility. The concept of taking down a 500 kV transmission line and rebuilding it, then you're talking about taking out one of the key arteries for supplying power to northern California for an extended period of time."

<B>Who regulates TANC and WAPA?</B>

"WAPA (Western Area Power Authority) is an agency under the Department of Energy. As far as regulation of TANC, it is a collection of municipal electric utilities, and it is regulated by its own board. As far as practices regarding reliability and operation of the system, all utilities in the western U.S. follow the requirements of the Western Electric Coordinating Council.