By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Mona may benefit from the construction of a power
plant near the community in that the need increase in
capacity power lines will bring a needed up-grade to the
community."
At a meeting held with local government officials,
members of Utah Power and PacifiCorp told those in
attendance that the power upgrade was going to be
required.
"A new overhead line, consisting of bigger and heavier
wire, will be required to meet the needs of PacifiCorp,"
said Merrill Brimhall, a Utah Power representative.
In fact, Lee Taylor, Supervisor D&T and Electric
Operations for Utah Power, said he had already received a
change out order.
"If the change were not made, the city would soon be
out of capacity," said Brimhall.
The growth which has occurred in Mona in recent years
has pushed the delivery of power to the limits. However, in
spite of community official requests, the power was not on a
high priority up-date list.
Now it is.
In addition, a transformer and reconductor, which are
at or near capacity, will be changed out.
"We will also build line out to our plant," said
Brimhall.
In addition, some new poles, some pole bracing, and
other safety issues will be considered.
The Current Creek project must still receive
regulatory approval from the Utah Public Service Commission.
In addition, air quality permits must be obtained and
approval for a transfer of water source must be
obtained.
On Monday, concerned parities who are questioning the
bidding process, met with PacifiCorp representatives and a
host of regulatory advisors in a nearly four-hour Utah
Public Service Commission technical conference to review the
bid process.
The Current Creek Project calls for the new plant to
be located next to the Mona substation, a major transmission
interconnection point.
The new power generation plant location lies within a
group of interconnected transmission substations that serve
the Wasatch Front.
This is the first project under a new resource plan by
the company to provide 4,000 megawatts of new electricity to
its six-state region. Much of the future generation will
used in Utah.
The company is pressing the Utah Public Service
Commission for regulatory approval by Dec. 31 which would
result in first-phase operation by June 2005.
The 525-megawatt plant will be completed in two
phases, with 280 megawatts operational by the summer of 2005
and 245 megawatts in 2006.
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