12-7-2010 Elko Daily Free Press
BLM issues final analysis of ON transmission line
ELKO — The U.S. Bureau of Land Management's Ely District issued the final supplemental study for the ON Nevada Transmission Line that will tie in with NV Energy's transmission line to northeastern Nevada.
The BLM opened a 30-day period of review Monday of the document that looks at NV Energy's plan for the new transmission line from Ely to Las Vegas that has since become a joint project with Great Basin Transmission.
The proposed 500-kV transmission line would extend approximately 236 miles from the Harry Allen substation north of Las Vegas to a substation to be constructed west of Ely, according to the BLM.
NV Energy also will connect the new line to its transmission line from Ely to Boulder Valley east of Battle Mountain.
The ON Line could also transmit power generated by renewable energy facilities proposed for east central Nevada.
NV Energy spokesman Mark Severts said the company wanted the BLM to proceed with the study of the original proposal for the power line, despite the partnership with Great Basin Transmission, for a couple of reasons.
"It boils down to the fact that there are elements in our final environmental impact study that are beneficial to the joint project," he said Monday.
The plan allows for construction of a new substation west of Ely that Severts said he believes will be NV Energy's proposed Robinson Summit substation.
"It may be a better option for both companies," Severts said.
The BLM's final supplemental EIS also allows for expansion of NV Energy's Falcon substation in Boulder Valley east of Battle Mountain, he said. This expansion will be needed for the new capability for power transmissions from Las Vegas to northeastern Nevada.
The final document states the transmission line connecting Las Vegas to northeastern Nevada could displace some wildlife, especially near the Robinson Summit substation.
The study reports, however, that the impact on wildlife overall will not have significant environmental consequences.
The BLM report also concludes that construction and operation of the transmission line will create more jobs and higher wages in White Pine and Lincoln counties.
Great Basin Transmission broke ground on the transmission line in October and the two companies estimate roughly 400 jobs will be created at peak construction, according to an earlier fact sheet.
The BLM prepared the supplemental study of NV Energy's transmission line proposal because the transmission line had been analyzed as a component of NV Energy's proposed coal-fired power plant to be constructed north of Ely.
NV Energy puts plans for the coal-fired plant on indefinite hold while awaiting new carbon-capture technology but wanted to go forward with the transmission line.
Later, NV Energy and Great Basin Transmission, an affiliate of LS Power, reached an agreement to build one transmission line. LS Power had earlier planned its own line and the BLM approved that project.
Under the joint venture, Great Basin Transmission will own 75 percent of ON Line, and NV Energy will own 25 percent of the line and purchase capacity from Great Basin for Great Basin's share of the line.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $510 million.
Severts said NV Energy's ON Line proposal also requires approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.
Copies of the final SEIS can be downloaded at www.blm.gov/nv. Click on the Ely district on the map and then click on the ON Line Final SEIS under "In the Spotlight."
The BLM reported the agency considered 19 public comments on the draft EIS in preparing the final supplemental EIS on the ON Line project.