City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 18, 2014 (REVISED)
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER/s/
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a Resolution to Create an Ad Hoc Community Work Group to Consider Dominion Virginia Power Proposed Underground Transmission Line from NRG to Arlington County Glebe Road Substation, and New Substation at the NRG Site. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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ISSUE: Resolution for the creation of an ad hoc Work Group for the for the proposed Dominion Virginia Power (DVP) 230 KV electrical line between the existing DVP substation facility and the Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO) switching station located within the NRG Energy site.
RECOMMENDATION: That Council approve the attached resolution and authorize the City Manager to appoint an ad hoc DVP working group with membership as outlined in this memorandum.
BACKGROUND: On June 11, 2014, DVP met with City Council and presented its proposal to improve the reliability and capacity of its electrical system by connecting it with the PEPCO system at the Potomac River Generating Station (PRGS) site. DVP already has approval from Pennsylvania New Jersey Maryland (PJM), the multi-state electrical grid manager, for this $165 million project and wants to submit the proposal near the first quarter of 2015 to the State Corporation Commission (SCC) for their subsequent approval. This DVP proposal would involve the construction of an underground 230KV line from the Dominion substation on South Glebe Road in Arlington to an expanded substation to be constructed on the west side parking lot of the current PRGS site. This new substation would have a large footprint, as DVP indicated it would utilize this parking lot which although owned by PEPCO is under long term lease to NRG (which also has a concurrent long term lease of the former power station site). PEPCO owns and continues to operate the substation (which serves as a part of the Washington, D.C. power grid). As part of this proposal, DVP claims that it would need to connect these two substations with an underground 230KV line (similar to the one along the Route 1 corridor) in a route to be determined.
DISCUSSION: The purpose of the Work Group would be to examine quality of life, economic, electric reliability, environmental and transportation impacts associated with the DVP project, and to make recommendations to staff, the City Manager and Council on matters pertaining to the project. The nine (9) member group would be composed of representatives from the North Old Town Independent Citizen Civic Association (1 member), Del Ray Citizens Association (1 member), and either Arlandria Civic Association (1 member), or Lynhaven Civic Association (1 member), or Mount Jefferson Civic Association (1 member) or NorthEast Citizens' Association (1 member), Potomac Yard Homeowners Associations (1 member)(area comprised of Old Town Greens, Potomac Greens, and the main body of Potomac Yard), Environmental Policy Commission (1 member), Parks and Recreation Commission (1 member), Alexandria Chamber of Commerce (1 member), and the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (1 member), and one at large (1 member). If a designated group chooses not to fill their seat on this work group, the City Manager could consider that vacant seat an at-large seat. This Work Group would be staffed by T&ES with other Departmental resources brought in as needed. The Work Group charter would expire after one year and sunset if not renewed by Council.
FISCAL IMPACT: There would be no additional fiscal impact at this time; however, staff is considering the acquisition of technical services specific to DVP's request. The Work Group would be staffed by T&ES staff.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
Attachment 2: City Manager Letter to DVP of 6/2/14
Attachment 3: DVP Response Letter to City Manager 6/5/14
Attachment 4: City Question to DVP dated 6/11/14
STAFF:
Mark Jinks, Deputy City Manager
Richard Baier, Director T&ES
Karl Moritz, Acting Director, P&Z
James Spengler, Director, Parks and Recreation
Christopher Spera, Deputy City Attorney
Jerome Fletcher, Special Assistant, CMO
William Skrabak, Deputy Director, T&ES
Jeffrey Farner, Deputy Director, P&Z
Maurice Daly, Division Chief, T&ES
Antonio Baxter, Division Chief, T&ES
Lisa Jaatinen, CE IV, T&ES