Borough setting public meeting about MEA power-line routes

DAWN De BUSK/Frontiersman reporter

The Mat-Su Borough Assembly will offer a public meeting before the end of February to better inform Mat-Su residents of the pros and cons of alternative routes - including one through the borough's central landfill - for construction of Matanuska Electric Association's proposed power lines, which will supply backup power to the future Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

MEA's plans to erect power lines through the landfill ground to a halt after Palmer Superior Court Judge Beverly Cutler, last Friday, denied MEA immediate access to its proposed route, while giving the borough more time to come up with a better alternative.

The power lines would connect transmission lines at the Palmer-Wasilla and Parks highways, and provide backup electricity to the new hospital, which is being constructed near the Parks Highway and Trunk Road intersection.

According to court documents, MEA claimed the co-op would suffer irreparable harm if it weren't allowed to resume construction by Feb. 14, and claimed that the hospital would be left without a backup power supply at the time of its projected opening in January 2006.

"The court finds that the defendant (MEA) has raised valid concerns for itself and for the community, but finds that the harms alleged do not amount to irreparable harm at this time because they are too speculative in nature. The new hospital's opening date is uncertain at the present time," Cutler wrote.

In her ruling, Cutler stated that the borough "has demonstrated valid safety concerns regarding running powerlines over the Central Landfill."

One of the safety issues mentioned in past discussions was the presence of methane gas pockets at the landfill.

"We're pleased with her decision," Borough Manager John Duffy said. "It gives us more time to come up with a reasonable and acceptable alternative."

Duffy said the most favorable alternative alignment plan "is one that has the least impact on private property owners, has the least impact on the view shed and the least impact on the trail system."

Keeping the view shed means maintaining the aesthetics of any area where power lines are installed. For example, the views of Pioneer Peak and experimental farmland from homeowners' windows would not be compromised if the view shed is protected.

"We also want to look at the costs. Is it possible to bury some of the lines?" he said.

Duffy said MEA's plans will not be tossed aside.

"The fact remains, we need to take a look at what MEA proposed and compare alternates to what was originally proposed," he said.

According to court documents, MEA requested a quick decision by the judge because delaying the power-line installation project would not allow MEA to provide backup power to the hospital in time for its expected opening of January 2006.

Taking time to refine a power-line route best suited for the community will prove to be a wise decision, according to Duffy.

The borough can also afford the delay in power-line construction because the hospital already has standby power from its own electrical generators.

Also in her court ruling, Cutler stated that construction of the power lines would need to resume within a reasonable amount of time in order to benefit the community.

"The court recognizes that speedy resolution of the location of the line and construction of the line both are of the essence to (MEA) and the community," she concluded. "(MEA) probably has at least a few more months to complete construction than (it) alleges before there is a risk of harm for either (MEA) or future hospital patients."

MEA spokesman Tuckerman Babcock could not be reached at his office or on his cell phone before

press time.