Issue:
VO‐1
AZARNG Site:
Entire JLUS
Project Area
Future power transmission line projects
could pose helicopter flight hazards.
As Arizona’s power grid continues to grow to
support new development and increasing
demand, new power lines will need to be
installed. New utility corridor and power line
construction should be coordinated with the
AZARNG to mitigate potential impacts to
helicopter flight areas, especially those where
low‐level training occurs.
Compatibility Assessment
There have been several large power generation and transmission facilities built in the
JLUS Project Area over the past decade. In the State of Arizona, the Arizona Corporation
Commission (ACC) is responsible for approving energy facility and transmission line siting.
Arizona Public Service (APS) and Salt River Project (SRP) are two of the primary energy
providers throughout southern Arizona. These organizations have processes in place,
partly based on FAA guidance, to coordinate proposed utility corridors with aviation
facilities to manage potential impacts. Continuance of this coordination will be important
as future projects are identified.
There are multiple solar energy facilities in the county, providing renewable energy for
the market. These plants have the infrastructure, including high voltage transmission
lines to enable distributing the power to end users within and outside Pinal County.
As Pinal County, the State of Arizona and the southwest U.S. continue to grow, there is a
need to provide electrical power for expanding residential, commercial and industrial
uses. The Central Arizona Transmission System 2016 Transmission Study estimated a
need for more than 10,000 MW of electrical power in Pinal County to support planned
future growth. Getting the power from locations where it is generated to the end users
will involve new transmission lines, some of which will travers the JLUS Project Area.
Examples of potential future projects that include power transmission lines are:
SunZia Southwest Transmission Project involving 500kV transmission lines from
New Mexico to Pinal County,
San Manuel Project for 115kV transmission lines to direct power to southeastern
Pinal County,
Pinal Central Sundance 230kV transmission line to serve increasing load demand
in Pinal County, and
Pinal Central / Abel 500kV line to improve delivery services.
Background Report
5-133