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MCAS 'Very Concerned' About Proposed Power Lines

Posted on: Wednesday, 1 March 2006, 09:01 CST

By Blake Schmidt, The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.

Mar. 1--The Marine Corps Air Station Yuma says it is "very concerned" about a Connecticut man's plans to build a 25-mile stretch of 180-foot-tall power lines that would pass through the Barry M. Goldwater Range, and would stand in the landing pattern of Marine Harrier jets. The power lines -- which would consist of transmission structures that could reach as high as 200 feet to support two 500,000 volt electric transmission lines -- could also be put up in areas near the Foothills where residential growth is being planned, and in agricultural land in the North Gila Valley, according to Joseph Bojnowski, the CEO of North Branch Resources. The power lines are part of Bojnowski's proposed project to build an estimated $300 million, 550-megawatt per hour power plant in Mexico, three miles east of San Luis Rio Colorado, according to Bojnowski. "If the project goes according to schedule, we believe we can break ground by the end of this year, and have the plant operating by mid-2008," Bojnowski said. But first, the plan has to find a route to set up power lines to connect the power plant in Mexico with the Gila substation north of Interstate 8 near the Foothills, said Western Area Power Administration environmental specialist Mark Wieringa. Bojnowski said he has "millions" of dollars in investment capital for the project, though he declined to be specific. "The proposed location of the power line is a congested area that lies between the range boundary and several active range areas or facilities," said MCAS Public Affairs Officer Capt. Beatriz Yarrish.

The project recently began the National Environmental Policy Act planning process, in which MCAS plans to participate, Yarrish said. "The air station is aware of the power line proposal and we are very concerned about anything that would interfere with the safety of our air crews or could impede current operations," Yarrish said, adding that MCAS received a rough proposal of the plans. She said MCAS is in the process of collecting concerns and issues from tenant commands at the air station. She said the air station will provide comments by the March 13 deadline. Bojnowski said he has partnered his company with Generadora Del Desierto, a Mexican company owned by Jorge Berano, a Mexican citizen who is a former Pemex official and former employee of the federal budget office in Mexico, Bojnowski said. Bojnowski's Mexican partner owns 900 acres of land near the Mexican border east of San Luis Rio Colorado, 250 acres of which he said would be used to construct a combined cycle, natural gas-fired, power plant in Mexico. Bojnowski said his company has talked with the Marines on several occasions. He said one possibility that has been discussed is bringing down the height of the proposed power lines to 115 feet in the vicinity of the harrier's landing patterns. He said all plans are tentative at this point. The Western Area Power Administration held meetings Tuesday at the Yuma Civic and Convention Center. Today, meetings will be at San Luis High School in San Luis, Ariz., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Residents are invited to give feedback at the meetings on the proposed project. Bojnowski said that during the 18 peak hours of the day, the generated electricity would likely be sold to customers on the U.S. side of the border. During off-peak hours, he said, the energy could be sold in Mexico. He said the plant could potentially sell power to Yuma, though no one in Yuma has expressed interest to date, Bojnowski said. Bojnowski said the proposed plant in Mexico would meet U.S. regulations for a plant that is in Mexico. "Our environmental standards will look at the impacts that will accrue in the U.S. due to the power lines and due to the plant operating in Mexico," said Ellen Russell, U.S. Department of Energy Senior Project Manager who oversees international transmission projects. She added that would take into account any emissions that would cross the border. He said CH2M Hill, the company that would engineer, procure and construct the plant, has experience having constructed plants in West Phoenix and near Las Vegas. North Branch Resources has applied for a presidential permit for the border project, Bojnowski said. "It's early on in the process. That's why we're here to get response from all parties that would have interest in this power line," Bojnowski said. For more information, contatct Mark Wieringa at Western Power Administration, wieringa@wapa.gov or 1-720-962-7448.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.

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Source: The Sun (Yuma, Ariz.)

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