ST. GEORGE – An 850 mile long, high-voltage power line could be making its way through Utah.
Duke American Transmission Co. is proposing the power line to transport energy from a Wyoming wind farm to southern Nevada communities. This week the company representatives are in southern Utah to talk to residents about how the power line might impact their communities.
The Zephyr Power Transmission Project is proposed to enter Utah in Uintah County and snake its way through the Uintah Basin to Nephi, then it would turn south and exit the state west of St. George, passing close to the communities of Central and Veyo.
Project assistant director Andy Cotter says overall the project is being positively received. The proposed path is already occupied by another high-voltage power line. While that does alleviate some concerns due to a decreased impact, there are concerns about having those two lines so close together.
"What we need to do is make sure that they are properly spaced from each other," says Cotter. "There are entities responsible reliable operation of the grid, the transmission system. They will study that in due time and prescribe a safe distance away so we can be assured of safe, reliable operation."
Representatives with Duke American Transmission company were in St. George on Tuesday to answer questions and get feedback from the public on the proposed power line.
Additional open house events will be held in Milford, Utah, on April 24 at the Milford City Office. Another will be held at Parowan High School on April 25. Both events will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Additional information about the Zephyer Power Transmission project can be found here: www.datcllc.com/datc-projects/zephyr.
