The Arizona Corporation Commission is expected to vote Wednesday on
a controversial plan to transmit energy generated in Arizona to
power California homes and businesses.
The proposed 231 miles of high-voltage lines would run from several
independently owned natural-gas plants near Palo Verde Nuclear
Generating Station to an area near Palm Springs.
Southern California Edison, which wants to build the $581 million
transmission line, says that the project would increase Arizona's
capacity to transmit energy and bring in nearly 500 construction
jobs.
In March, the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting
Committee, comprising public members and state officials, agreed to
the plan. The committee said the line could help Arizona develop
capacity to sell energy during off-hours and off-seasons. The
stations that would generate the power aren't heavily used because
of lack of demand in Arizona and inability to transmit to other
places.
Commission staff and commissioners, however, have raised questions
about the project's effects on Arizona ratepayers. Commission
staffers have testified that California will get the bulk of the
project's benefits and Arizona will pay most of the costs.
Arizona ratepayers could pay as much as $242 million extra because
more competition is expected for Arizona's electricity, staff
members say.
The Sierra Club also has opposed the plan because the group believes
it will hurt the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, a southwestern
Arizona haven for endangered desert bighorn sheep.
The California utility wants 24 miles of its proposed line to cross
the refuge.