Corporation Commission approves extension of APS line certificate of environmental compatibility

The Arizona Corporation Commission voted 3-2 on Wednesday to extend a certificate of environmental compatibility for a high-voltage power line extension just outside Yuma.

APS attorney Matthew Derstine says the utility began planning this two-phase power line extension in 2011 in anticipation of growth. That demand has now seemingly arrived with a single customer.

“I think as commissioners are well aware, we have projects that we’re building to serve an immediate need — a customer, a large generator interconnection,” Derstine said. ”We know what that need is, and we build it to serve that.”

The first phase, which is already complete, connects the North Gila Substation running power from the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station to the Orchard substation in southeastern Yuma. The second phase, which commissioners just approved, will run five miles from the Orchard substation to the Yucca natural gas plant at the northern tip of the city.

Along with serving the unnamed large customer, Derstine says the added transmission could facilitate anticipated growth in Yuma. But those details were a little less clear.

“Predicting future growth is not an exact science,” Derstine told commissioners. “Sometimes it comes sooner than we anticipate. Sometimes it takes longer. But I think what we see here in Arizona is that eventually comes.”

Derstine says 12,000 neighboring residents have received periodic updates on the project, including when it was announced and Thursday’s scheduled vote. Derstine pointed out that only one resident came to speak in opposition.

But Mary Campbell-Griffin, a local farmer and impacted property owner, says notice of the vote came during a busy season.

“I checked with the farmer south of us who also just received this on Tuesday, and we are in our intense planting time right now, so it is a very difficult time to attend this meeting, I must say,” Campbell-Griffin said.

The power line is expected to run through Campbell-Griffin’s property. She’s worried construction could impact the quality of her crops and soil.

Commissioner Kevin Thomspon asked Campbell-Griffin if APS had approached her about a right-of-way permit or compensation for being on her land, to which Campbell-Griffin replied no.

Thompson and ACC Chair Nick Myers cast the two votes against the project.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to an editing error, the story has been updated to correct which day the Arizona Corporation Commission voted. Also, the story, headline and a photo caption have been updated to correct that the commissioners approved extending the project's certificate of environmental compatibility.