Avista Utilites info. on workshops
Avista Utilities
1411 EastMission PO Box3727
Spokane, Washington 99220-3727
Telephone 509-489-0500 IIm
Toll Free 800-727-9170 dirwIIiVISTA'
Utilities
May 21, 2003
Dear Neighbors:
During February and March of this year Avista held four public meeting workshops to gather community
input on the routing of high voltage transmission lines into the Otis Orchards Substation. The workshops
generated eight alternatives on routing transmission lines into the existing substation including an option to
relocate the substation to Avista's Boulder Park generating plant (SE corner of Trent Avenue and Barker
Road). Workshop participants indicated that constructing a new station next to Boulder Park was the most
preferred alternative.
Over the past couple months, Avista conducted an extensive review of the eight alternatives. It was
determined that the "Boulder Option"-- relocating the Otis Orchards substation would best serve the
immediate and future needs of the Otis Orchards community and Avista Utilities.
In recognition of the move to the Boulder Park Industrial Park, Avista has chosen the name "Boulder" for the
new/relocated substation, changing the Otis Orchards' Transmission Line Project into "The Boulder
Substation and Transmission Line Project." An updated project "fact sheet" and maps showing the proposed
routing of transmission lines are attached for your information.
We plan to immediately begin permitting and designing the Boulder Substation with the goal of energizing
the substation in early 2006.
We want to express our appreciation to everyone who participated in this public involvement process. The
input into the transmission route alternatives provided Avista with a creative solution that we are pleased to
put into action.
If you have questions, please give us a call at (509) 495-8577 or email us at deb.mortlock@avistacora.com.
You may also want to visit our web site at www.aviStaLItilities.coi-n/transmission/otis, we will update
information periodically.
Sincerely,
Ken Sweigart Dave James
Project Engineer Transmission
An affiliate of Avista Corp.
• / I .V O
y 1-800-227-9187 ~ www.avistautilities.com
I=STA
Updated May 16, 2003 Utilities
FACT SHEET: BOULDER SUBSTATION AND
TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT
PROJECT OVERVIEW PUBLIC PROCESS AND
In order to meet the growing demand for electric power in our SITE SELECTION
community, Avista is upgrading a number of its high voltage Avista's public process included a series of four public workshops
transmission lines including its Beacon-Rathdrum 230 kV transmis- Which resultetl in eight alternative proposals for upgrading Avista's
sion line. This line, which runs east - west, can be compared to a existing Otis Orchards Substation for 230 kV-transmission service.
"super highway" that carries high-voltage power through our region. The preferred choice among workshop participants involved
The Beacon-Rathdrum 230 kV transmission line is a key element for relocating the existing Otis Orchards Substation to the area next to
delivering reliable service to the Spokane area. Avista's Boulder Park Generation Station (southeast of Trent Ave.
• The line is currently in the process of being upgraded from a single and Barker Rd. intersection).
circuit 230 kV transmission line to a double circuit. Having completed an extensive review and gathering public input,
• The upgraded line will provide additional transmission capacity to Avista is planning to decommission the Otis Orchards Substation
support the transfer of Avista's Clark Fork and Rathdrum generation and build the Boulder Substation. The Boulder Substation and
into the major load center in Spokane. Transmission Line will function as a new "exit ramp" from this super
• In other words, it will provide the transmission necessary to deliver highway and a new "arterial" for carrying high-voltage power to a
energy into Spokane and our homes and businesses. centrally located substation located in the Otis Orchards area in
order to serve the new growth between Spokane and Coeur d'Alene.
Avista sought public input for transmission line siting solutions to
Once this power reaches the substation, it can be distributetl to
connect the Beacon-Rathdrum 230 kV transmission line to a
substation in Otis Orchards. This area was chosen because it is communities throughout the Spokane area,
where our community's growth is - the I-90 corridor between
Spokane and Coeur d'Alene. PROJECT NAME
CHANGE
In recognition of the move to
Beacon - Rathdrum Double Circuit ••''the Boulder Park Industrial
230 kV Transmission Line ...••"'Park Avista has chosen the
General area for upgraded ••"'x ,
.•••'m
transmission line ,STert name "Boulder" for the new/
:
,,,,,..,••••°g~ Wellesley o. relocated substation,
changing the Otis Orchards
,
,
) r Substation Transmission Line Project
(New
~
Otis Orchards Substation into the Boulder Substation
~ (Decommission) ~ and Transmission Line
e ' -
,,...Euctid
Spokane River Project.
This map shows the Otis
m Orchards Subsfation which will
be decommissioned, the
- ? location for the new Boulder
Substation and the general area
~
for the rebuilt transmission line.
Boulder Park Substation and Transmission Line Fact Sheet
THE BOULDER PARK SOLUTION PERMITTING AND TRANSMISSION
The Boulder Park Substation will provide a direct connection LI N E LO CATI 0 N
between Avista's 230 kV and 115 kV transmission systems in the Avista will route its 115 kV and 230 kV transmission lines to the Boulder
Spokane/Coeur d'Alene service territory. The Boulder Substation site Substation with the intent to minimize impacts to the surrounding
was chosen for the following reasons: landowners. Once the transmission routes are finalized, Avista will work
1. It is centrally located within our community,s growth area (which is with landowners and apply with the appropriate government agencies for
the I-90 corridor between Spokane and Coeur d'Alene). the proper permits. The substation development will follow a separate,
2. It is close to an existing high-voltage arterial transmission route but concurrent, permitting process.
(see map for the Beacon-Benewah 230 kV transmission line).
3. It is close to Avista's Boulder Park Generating Station. PROJECT SCHEDU LE
4. This solution was the preferred choice among the participants of
the public workshops, held by Avista tluring February and March Land acquisition process ..........................Summer 2003 - Winter 2004
2003.
5. This solution allows Avista to accommodate long term growth while Substation permitting and design begins ........................Summer 2003
minimizing impact to the surrounding community. Substation construction begins April 2004
Transmission line construction begins ...............................Spring 20(
THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL Substation construction complete ................................December 2005
CAPACITY Transmission line construction complete .....................December 2005
Avista has not built new 230 kV transmission lines in the Spokane
area since the early 1970s. Today, the growth of our region has left
very little transmission capacity for continued growth or emergency
situations. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE
CONTACT:
ADVANTAGES • Deb Mortlock, Project Coordinator, (509) 495-8577
Through projects like this, Avista will be able to bring more power • Ken Sweigart, Project Manager, (509) 495-4417
into the area. Other advantages include: • Avista Media Line, (509) 495-4174
• Increased reliability for customers. • www.avistautilities.com/transmission/otis
• Increased flexibiliry to deliver energy and reserve capacity.
• Provitle back-up to shift electrical loads when there is an outage,
equipment failure, etc., which will help restore power more quickly.
• Provide the capacity to respond to future growth and energy
demands.