Project Purpose and Overview
The greater Phoenix region has emerged as one of the top markets in the western United States for attracting high-tech industries. The West Valley, in particular, is benefiting from economic development activity that will bring jobs and revenue to the area. With strong growth in the area and increased electrical load demand, comes a need for new 230 kilovolt (kV) power lines and a substation in the area to serve new customers.
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In the Fall of 2020, APS announced the need for new electrical infrastructure to serve a new data center and support overall growth in the West Valley. Since then, we have conducted environmental studies and held multiple meetings with representatives from the cities and towns within the study area, as well as the Maricopa County Department of Transportation, the Flood Control District of Maricopa County, and landowners to develop multiple route options for the new 230kV transmission lines.
In October 2020, we launched a month-long virtual open house to provide information and seek input. We also held a live virtual public meeting on November 4, 2020, to discuss the project with local community members, answer questions, and solicit feedback on the project.
In June 2021, we launched a second month-long virtual open house to share the results of the studies and once again gather public input, answer questions, and solicit feedback to determine optimal route options for the new transmission lines. A live virtual public meeting was held on June 15, 2021. Preferred routes were determined after reviewing the input we gathered.
These transmission lines will connect the new Contrail Substation (located on the customer’s property on the southeast corner of Olive Avenue and Dysart Road) to existing 230kV transmission facilities. Specifically, these new lines will need to connect the Contrail Substation approximately two miles to the east into the existing 230kV transmission line and approximately 5 miles to the west into the planned TS-2 Substation.
We are in the final stages of a public siting process to identify appropriate routes for new 230kV power lines that best meet the needs of the customer, the community, and regulatory agencies.
Your feedback has helped determine the path of new power lines that are needed to connect the new Contrail Substation with existing power lines in the area and to provide more reliable service for current and future APS customers.
To continue providing our customers with safe, clean and reliable electricity, we need to add new power lines to serve existing customers and support the economic growth and development in the West Valley.
The new Contrail Substation is located in El Mirage, near the southeast corner of Olive Avenue and Dysart Road. New power lines are needed to connect this substation to existing power lines in the area.