Power route sparks debate

MAT-SU -- The new hospital being built near Trunk Road will cause a significant draw on area power needs, and Matanuska Electric Association officials are looking at ways to run a major transmission line to the site. So far, local public land users don't like what MEA has proposed.

"I don't have a problem with it if they want to bury [the line]," said Kathy Wells, vice-chair of the borough's parks, recreation and trails advisory board. "If they want to run a big, ugly transmission line, then run it along Trunk Road. This is a huge green space."

MEA officials say they have the right to develop along the route they've chosen, and staff from the Mat-Su Borough's right-of-way permitting office said although they can make recommendations, ultimately, approval rests with state officials, not borough officials.

"Utilities have the right to use section line easements," said Wade Wilson, a right-of-way agent with the borough.

Although final approval rests with the state, there are issues involved with MEA's proposed route that could be problematic for the borough. A portion of the line would extend through land dedicated for use as the borough's Central Landfill -- in fact, the route would cut in half the existing entrance at the landfill. It's not a problem that could be solved by running the utilities under ground as opposed to above ground -- the land has been set aside for future landfill use, and neither in-ground nor above-ground wires can feasibly be run through the area. Wilson said borough officials plan to work with MEA to find a solution.

"It's in the public's interest," Wilson said. "I'm sure MEA is aware of the route and is waiting for us to propose an alternative that they can work with."

Wells said the trails board would like to see future uses of section line easements addressed so this issue doesn't crop up in the future. The board, she said, has also been working toward getting the trails in and between Crevasse Moraine Trail System and Kepler-Bradley State Recreation Area dedicated for future public use.

"We want to call it Central Park," Wells said. "It's the last piece of open land in the Core [area]."

MEA officials said they are aware of the problem, and are waiting for the borough to propose alternatives. Tuckerman Babcock, manager of governmental and strategic affairs for MEA said there are a number of issues yet to be decided -- such as who will pay the additional cost of rerouting the transmission lines.

"We can build a straight line from N. 49th State Street. Do we do two right angles [around the landfill]? Who pays for that?" Babcock asked.

There is another component to the planned extension that complicates matters, however. Because a reliable energy supply is critical to hospital operations, and because the hospital is located between two existing substations, Babcock said installing a new substation would be ideal.

"It would be valuable to have another substation there," Babcock said. The new substation would, in the case of a power outage, allow power to be rerouted to minimize the number of homes out of power. "It depends on where the outages occur … but, the more substations you have, the greater the number of people whose power stays on."

Because of the public interest in ensuring trails and existing land uses are not disturbed by adding a new utility corridor, Borough Community Development Director Ron Swanson suggested borough residents be given a chance to weigh in, although sending out public notices is not, typically, part of the process in considering right-of-way applications -- and certainly isn't when it's a section-line easement being considered.

"There's no process for public comment," Wilson said. "The reason for that is, these easements are already established. It's been dedicated through a public process."

Mat-Su Borough Manager John Duffy said he agreed, and borough staff will be sent out Monday or Tuesday.

"We believe the Crevasse Moraine Trail system and the Kepler-Bradley Lakes trail system are very important to the residents of the borough," Duffy said. "It was not too long ago when the borough proposed a land sale in that area, and people were very concerned. Because of the high interest we've had in that area, if the borough does not go out for public notice, residents would be upset with us."

Depending on the feedback received when the notices are sent to interested local groups, borough staff said a public hearing may or may not be held.

Contact Rindi White at rindi.white@frontiersman.com.