Rio Rico-Harshaw 138kV Transmission Line Project

CEC Application Exhibits A-I

• Full-size PDF 173mb

Exhibit J

• Full-size PDF 139mb

• Prefiling Conference Transcript Feb. 23, 2023
• Notice of Hearing — signed March 6, 2023

UniSource invited approximately 13,000 area residents and business owners to participate in an in-person open house meeting held on Jan. 25, 2023.

• Meeting Presentation
• Exhibits
• Visual Simulations

UniSource invited approximately 14,000 area residents and business owners to participate in an in-person open house meeting held on Nov. 17, 2022.

• Meeting Presentation
• Exhibits

UniSource invited approximately 14,000 area residents and business owners to participate in a hybrid virtual/in-person open house meeting held on Aug. 25, 2022

• Meeting Presentation

UniSource invited approximately 14,000 area residents and business owners to participate in a virtual open house meeting held on May 13, 2021.

• Meeting Presentation
• Q&A Transcripts

UniSource invited more than 11,000 area residents and business owners to participate in a virtual open house meeting held on September 24, 2020 from 6-8 p.m.

• Meeting Presentation PDF
• Q&A Transcripts

Components of the Rio Rico- Harshaw Line include:

• Proposed Rio Rico 138 kV Switchyard: A new switchyard is required to connect to UniSource’s existing 138 kV transmission system. The proposed switchyard would be located near Interstate 19 and the International Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Rio Rico area.
• Rio Rico-Harshaw 138 kV Line: A new line, approximately 20 miles long, to be constructed between the proposed Rio Rico 138 kV Switchyard and the proposed Harshaw Substation.
• Proposed Harshaw Substation: The new line will interconnect with a proposed 138/13.2 kV substation located on the privately- owned Hermosa Project site in Santa Cruz County, about 20 miles northeast of Nogales and about nine miles southeast of Patagonia, Arizona.

UniSource plans to build the line with self-weathering steel monopoles 75-110 feet tall. Taller structures may be required at major road or line crossings.

The Rio Rico to Harshaw Line will require 100-foot-wide rights-of-way to cross private and government-owned land in Santa Cruz County.

When determining where to locate new electric infrastructure, UniSource considers customers’ projected energy needs, proximity to and potential conflicts with existing infrastructure, project costs, environment and land use, input from the public and other factors.

UniSource developed a project study area based upon the anticipated future energy needs of the Hermosa Project, outage history, existing distribution infrastructure and utility corridors within the area, and the potential point of interconnection to UniSource’s existing 138 kV transmission system. The study area and interconnection points for the Rio Rico-Harshaw Line are shown on the Study Area Map below.

UniSource will complete environmental studies and solicit public comment to evaluate potential transmission line routes within the study area. UniSource also will consult with federal, state, and local jurisdictions and other interested parties regarding the Rio Rico-Harshaw Line.

When possible, UniSource will utilize existing utility and transportation corridors to help minimize any environmental and land use impacts of the line.

Public and agency input is an important component of the planning process for the Rio Rico-Harshaw Line. UniSource will provide information concerning the Rio Rico to Harshaw Line and request public input through virtual presentations, newsletters, and other forms of communication.

Comment Deadline
Public comments received after Feb. 7, 2023 will not be included in UNSE’s application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility, which is expected to be filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission on March 3, 2023. We encourage public involvement in this process and will continue to accept and review comments after this deadline. Comments can also be provided during an upcoming public hearing.

Residents and other stakeholders are always welcome to share their input by:

• Attending the in-person open house meeting listed above
• Mailing a comment form or a letter to:

UniSource Energy Services
ATTN: Rio Rico-Harshaw
PO Box 711
Tucson, AZ 85702

• Sending comments to RR2Harshaw@uesaz.com
• Filling out an online comment form.
• Calling 1-833-783-0396 and leaving a voicemail message.

UniSource busca aporte público sobre el Proyecto de línea de transmisión 138 kV e invita al público a asistir en persona la próxima reunión comunitaria para más información. Por favor use el formulario de comentario proporcionada en el lado de esta página de web para enviar un comentario. O por favor deje un mensaje al 833-783-0396 y le regresarán su llamada. Gracias por su interés en este proyecto.

Click here to view a map of the area

Under Arizona law, UniSource also must secure a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) from the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) before constructing the transmission line.

UniSource expects to file a CEC application in March 2023 with the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee (Line Siting Committee), which will review the application in a public process that allows neighbors and other stakeholders to provide comments. This hearing is tentatively scheduled to be held April 17-21, 2023 in Nogales. If the Line Siting Committee grants a CEC, it will be sent to the ACC for final review and approval.

UniSource has applied for a special use authorization from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to authorize a segment of the Rio Rico-Harshaw Line that is proposed to be built on lands within the Coronado National Forest (CNF).

The company is working with CNF officials concerning procedures and requirements for obtaining the special use authorization, including environmental reviews as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Rio Rico to Harshaw Line’s development timeline will depend in part on the length of the permitting and CEC processes. The transmission line is expected to be in service in 2024.

Newsletters

• Newsletter #5, January 2023 — English | español
• Newsletter #4, October 2022 — English
• Newsletter #3, August 2022 — English | español
• Newsletter #2, April 2021 — English | español
• Newsletter #1, September 2020 — English | español