More study needed, Wasilla planners say

WASILLA — Faced with a proposed power line routed through downtown, the city’s planning commission Tuesday decided to spend more time seeking a compromise.

The proposal from Matanuska Electric Association has been the subject of numerous meetings over the last few months. The utility essentially wants to build taller towers to support new lines from its soon-to-be-built power plant at Eklutna all the way to a substation a short way down Knik-Goose Bay Road from Wasilla. The preferred route goes through downtown Wasilla and city officials have not been shy about expressing opposition.

“We’re not saying, ‘MEA, don’t bring us power,’ but we have to be very, very careful,” said planning commission chair Daniel Kelly Jr.

He said Wasilla has a comprehensive plan it needs to follow. He added that, while the city might have, in some people’s eyes, a reputation for being “shabby,” it is working hard to improve that image.

Commissioner Jessica Dean said that, in her eyes, that as a retail hub the city serves the whole Valley. Thus, efforts to improve the city’s perceived shabbiness are efforts on behalf of the whole Valley.

MEA General Manager Joe Griffith urged the commission to give the proposal an up or down vote.

“You’re not going to change my mind,” he said. Later, he said, “We’re not out here trying to destroy the community. We’re trying to supply you the power you need to grow.”

MEA needs the line to serve the increased power demands on that side of the Valley, Griffith said.

“It’s not because MEA wants to get fancier and newer equipment. It’s because the system has never been built out the way it should be,” he said.

Griffith said he had experience building transmission lines like these during his tenure heading up the Chugach Electric Association. He ran some to the Dimond Center and another set from the University of Alaska area to Muldoon Road. Then, as now, people along the routes were very upset and there was a series of contentious meetings.

“The instant the lines went up nobody ever said another word,” he said. “If you drive down there today, who sees them? Nobody.”

City Planner Tina Crawford said that city staff doesn’t disagree with the need to bring more power to Wasilla.

“City staff recognizes that we need power,” she said. “It’s how you get it that’s the problem.”

She said that growth projections show Wasilla slowing down, meaning it’s a good time to plan and make sure the route is the best one. She also noted that the city of Cordova buries its transmission lines.

“If they can do it in Cordova we can do it here,” she said.

In the past, Griffith said he has told the city it could have the lines buried and pay for the added cost via a surcharge, like Eagle River users. But he said the city has not been responsive to the idea, thus far.

The option the commission eventually decided on was to continue the meeting until the city can set up meetings with city, borough and MEA staff to come up with a possible compromise.

On a suggestion from council president Berkley Tilton, the city agreed also to include a representative from the Knik-Fairview Community Council, which would likely bear the brunt of the impacts if the lines are pushed out of downtown.

Reached Wednesday, Crawford said the specifics of those meetings and when the commission will be able to make a final decision are still to be decided.

Contact Andrew Wellner at 352-2270 or andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com.