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Sierra Pacific Power Company began building the power line in February of 1998, following four years of exhaustive environmental studies and reviews by local, state and federal agencies. The power line will extend for 165 miles from an electric substation in Reno to the Alturas, Calif., area, where it will be connected to the electric transmission system operated by the Bonneville Power Administration.
The Alturas Intertie will nearly double Sierra Pacific's ability to import electricity to northern Nevada from other utilities. It will enable Sierra Pacific to purchase more low-cost hydroelectric power from the Pacific Northwest and provide customers with more choices for energy supplies.
The new transmission line will improve the reliability of the region's electric transmission system and serve the growing need for energy in Sierra Pacific's fast growing service territory.
By the end of October, 641 of the 665 steel, h-frame structures required to support the wires had been erected, along with 30 of the 70 steel, single-pole structures that are being erected along the Highway 395 freeway north of Reno. In addition, over 100 miles of wire had been strung. Helicopters were used to lift the h-frame structures into place on the northern half of the route and to string the wire.
Work is also nearly complete on two new substations - one near Alturas and another near the Nevada-California border - that will regulate the flow of electricity through the power line. A third, existing substation along the northern edge of Reno is being expanded to accommodate new facilities required for the power line. Mitigation measures safeguard the environment.
Of the $159 million budgeted for the power line project, approximately $27 million or 17 percent of the total went toward environmental studies and mitigation measures. For example, any land disturbed by equipment during construction will be returned to its original condition and replanted with native vegetation. As of late October, terrain along 79 miles of the route had been reclaimed and 62 miles had been replanted. Approximately 10,000 pounds of seeds are being used to replant native grasses and shrubs.
Special care was taken not to disturb wildlife along the route with construction activities, which meant workers and equipment had to stay out of designated wildlife areas during breeding seasons and other sensitive times of the year.
Environmental experts hired by the California Public Utilities Commission and the California Department of Fish and Game to ensure compliance with all the environmental mitigation measures carefully monitored the entire construction process on a daily basis. The CPUC served as the lead state agency during the permitting process; the Bureau of Land Management was the lead agency for the federal government.
As required by the environmental mitigation plan, Sierra Pacific and the Tuscarora Gas Pipeline Company (a Sierra Pacific affiliate) will also be purchasing over 2,000 acres of land that will be placed in public trust and protected from future development.
Environmental concerns are also reflected in the appearance of the power line. The dark brown color of the steel structures ensures they will blend in as much as possible with the surrounding terrain. Additionally, Sierra Pacific is using sandblasted wires to reduce the glare from reflected sunlight.
