City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MARCH 23, 2016
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Reconstitute the Ad Hoc Underground Transmission Line Working Group (UTLWG) to Consider a Dominion Virginia Power Proposed Transmission Line Between the Glebe Substation and Pepco’s Potomac River Substation [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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ISSUE: Consideration of a resolution for the reconstitution of the Ad Hoc UTLWG for the proposed Dominion Virginia Power 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that City Council approve the attached resolution and authorizes the City Manager to reconstitute the Ad Hoc UTLWG with membership as outlined in this memorandum.
BACKGROUND: On June 11, 2014, Dominion presented a proposal to City Council to construct an underground 230 kV line from the Dominion substation on South Glebe Road in Arlington to a new, expanded electrical substation proposed for construction on the west side parking lot next to the current Pepco Potomac Substation at the NRG site using a route to be determined. Upon learning of the Dominion proposal, City Council established an Underground Transmission Line Working Group (UTLWG). The UTLWG met five times in 2014 and finalized a Working Group Recommendations Memo on December 30, 2014 which was shared with City Council via a memorandum from the City Manager on January 22, 2015 and in advance of a to-be-determined future Council meeting and public hearing. Dominion postponed the project in order to undertake new demand studies prior to finalizing an alternative and filing that with the State Corporation Commission (SCC). On February 11, 2016, Dominion notified City staff of their decision to resume the project with a new schedule and anticipated SCC filing for summer of 2016, resulting in the need to re-establish the UTLWG.
DISCUSSION: The purpose of the UTLWG is to examine quality of life, economic, electric reliability, environmental and transportation impacts associated with the DVP project, to assist in disseminating information and to make recommendations to staff, the City Manager and Council on matters pertaining to the project. The ten (10) member UTLWG was composed in 2014 and is again proposed to be compromised of representatives from the North Old Town Independent Citizen Civic Association (1 member), Northeast Citizens Association (1 member), Del Ray Citizens Association (1 member), the Arlandria Civic Association (1 member), the Lynhaven Civic Association (1 member), Potomac Yard Homeowners Association (1 member), Environmental Policy Commission (1 member), the City of Alexandria Parks and Recreation Commission (1 member), and the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce (1 member), and the Four Mile Run Joint Task Force (1member). For consistency, staff will recommend each representative group re-nominate the same person if possible. The previous workgroup members will be contacted to confirm participation for reappointment. Many of these previous UTLWG members participated in a community meeting and question and answer session with Dominion on March 23rd.
The original UTLWG completed its initial task of making recommendations to staff, the City Manager and Council and, barring any unforeseen changes by Dominion, staff will be docketing the UTLWG’s Recommendations Memo for consideration by Council this spring. Staff expects to meet with the reconstituted UTLWG during the last week of April 2016. However, the role of the UTLWG is expected to change as the project moves into a process managed by the SCC which must consider whether to issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity for approval to construct and operate the 230 kV transmission line. Although the City will play an active role and expects to actively and closely review and comment on the Dominion filing, State Code grants the authority on major electrical utility routing to the SCC and pursuant to a formal, legal process that is not controlled by the City.
This UTLWG is staffed by T&ES with other City staff resources will be brought in as needed. The Work Group charter would expire at the completion of the SCC approval process.
FISCAL IMPACT: The FY2016 budget identified funding for technical and legal services associated with the 230 kV line project. However, depending on the complexity of the SCC process and pending the Dominion submittal to the SCC, additional funds may be required for technical and/or legal review and can likely be identified within the existing FY 2016 budget. Staffing time for the UTLWG is being absorbed by existing T&ES staff.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Proposed Resolution
STAFF:
Emily Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, Director T&ES
William Skrabak, Deputy Director, T&ES
Lisa Jaatinen, Acting Division Chief, T&ES
Megan Cummings, Acting Division Chief, T&ES
Karl Moritz, Director, P&Z
Jeffrey Farner, Deputy Director, P&Z
Karen Snow, Deputy City Attorney
James Spengler, Director, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
Bill Eger, Energy Manager, General Services