7. The Proposed Project and Alternatives
The purpose of the Devers-Mirage 115 kV Subtransmission System Split Project, according to SCE's PEA, is to serve the projected electrical demand in area including the Cities of Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and unincorporated areas of Riverside County, including the Thousand Palms community. The estimated cost of the project is $33.3 million. (Application, Appendix F at 13.)
7.1. Description of Proposed
Project and Alternatives
SCE identified several project alternatives in its PEA. More alternatives were developed by SCE and the Commission EIR team after the publication of the PEA. In total, the alternatives screening process culminated in the identification and screening of approximately 13 potential alternatives for SCE's proposed project. These alternatives range from routing adjustments for new subtransmission lines to demand-side management programs. Alternatives to the Proposed Project were screened according to CEQA guidelines to determine those alternatives to carry forward for analysis in the EIR and alternatives to eliminate from detailed consideration. The detailed results of the screening analysis are contained in Chapter 3 of the EIR. The EIR also evaluated a "no project" alternative. Under the "no project" alternative, the Proposed Project would not be implemented and the transmission system constrains would continue to exist and other projects would have to address this issue. In addition to the Proposed Project, Alternatives 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 were carried forward for further analysis in the EIR and are described below.
Alternative 1 (also know as the Proposed Project) would follow the existing Devers-Farrell-Windland 115 kV subtransmission route from Farrell Substation to Garnet Substation. This route would cross the Whitewater River floodplain, which is an open desert basin characterized by alluvial soils and low, sparse vegetation. Existing modification in the vicinity of the existing single-circuit 115 kV subtransmission line route, including distribution lines; the Farrell and Garnet Substations; roadways, including Gene Autry Trail, Interstate 10, Salvia Road, and Vista Chino Avenue; roadside billboards; and the Union Pacific Railroad, as well as residential and commercial development.
"No Project" Alternative: Selection of the "no project" Alternative would mean that the project, as proposed, would not be implemented. None of the associated project activities would occur and the environmental impacts associated specifically with the Proposed Project would not occur. However, the objectives for the Proposed Project would remain unfulfilled under the "no project" Alternative. Other yet unspecified transmission upgrades would presumably be proposed in the future to provide the needed capacity and additional reliability to serve growing electrical load in the area.
Alternative 2 would primarily cross low-density residential communities north of Vista Chino Avenue and along the east and west sides of Sunrise Way. From the substation, the route would head south on Gene Autry Trail to Vista Chino Avenue. The line would then head west and overbuild existing distribution lines on new support structures for approximately 1.25 miles along Vista Chino. At Sunrise Way, the route would turn north, and the new lines would overbuild existing distribution line on new support structures for one mile to San Rafael Road. From here to Four Seasons Boulevard, 0.5 mile would be constructed underground. From Four Seasons Boulevard to the intersection of the existing Devers-Farrell-Windland Subtransmission line, for 2.5 miles, the new line would overbuild the existing distribution line, and then turn west on the south side of I-10.
Alternative 3 would follow the existing Caltrans and City of Palm Springs road franchise locations and SCE right-of-way (ROW) between the Farrell and Garnet substations. From Farrel Substation, the underground segment of Alternative 3 would head south on Gene Autry Trail to Vista Chino. At Vista Chino, Alternative 3 would head west for approximately 1.3 miles until reaching Sunrise Way where the line would turn north and proceed along Sunrise Way to San Rafael Road. At the San Rafael Road, Alternative 3 would head west to Indian Canyon Drive, where it would turn north and continue underground from approximately 50 feet before it would rise above ground at a riser pole. North of the rise pole, the line would continue north overhead along Indian Canyon Drive within existing SCE distribution line ROW or City franchise to Garnet Substation. Along Indian Canyon Drive, the line would cross over the Whitewater River drainage adjacent to the Whitewater River Floodplain Preserve.
Alternative 5 would include approximately 3.1 miles of mostly new underground single-circuit 115 kV subtransmission line within existing Riverside County road franchise locations and SCE ROW between Mirage Substation and the existing Santa Rosa-Tamarisk 115 kV line. It would be installed underground between the Mirage Substation and the existing Mirage-Concho 115 kV overhead transmission line. From the Mirage Substation, Alternative 5 would head south on Vista de Oro until Ramon Road, where it would turn and head west. At Monterey Avenue, the alternative alignment turns and heads south to Varner Road, where it then turns southwest on Varner Road and proceeds to the point where it joins the existing Mirage-Concho 115 kV overhead subtransmission line. At this location, the underground line would rise overhead, double circuiting the Mirage-Cocho 115 kV subtransmission line. Alternative 5 would cross Interstate 10 and the Union Pacific Railroad on TSPs and would connect with the existing Santa Rosa-Tamarisk line south of I-10.
Alternative 6 would include the construction of approximately 4.2 miles of new underground and overhead single-circuit 115 kV subtransmission line within existing Caltrans and Cathedral City road franchise locations and SCE ROW between Farrell Substation and the existing Garnet-Santa Rosa 115 kV ROW. Alternative 6 would exit Farrell Substation and an overhead line by heading south on Gene Autry Trail to Vista Chino. The line would them head east on Vista Chino Approximately 1.7 miles to Landau Boulevard, where a rise pole would transition the line from overhead to underground. From Landau Boulevard, the underground line would continue east along Vista Chino Traversing one mile to the existing SCE ROW of the Devers-Eisenhower 115 kV line along the west side of Date Palm Drive, where the line would transition from underground to overhead. From the intersection of Vista Chino and Date Palm Drive, the new poles would continue 1.5 mile north within existing SCE ROW and Cathedral City franchise, to the Garnet leg of the Garnet-Santa Rosa subtransmission line.
Alternative 7 would include the construction of approximately 9.1 miles of new overhead single-circuit 115 kV subtransmission line within existing Caltrans and Cathedral City road franchise locations and SCE ROW between Farrell Substation and the existing Garnet-Santa Rose 115 kV ROW. Alternative 7 would exit Farrell Substation as an overhead line and head south on Gene Autry Trail to Vista Chino. The line would then head east on Vista Chino for approximately 1.7 miles to Landau Boulevard, where the line would turn south and continue along Landau Boulevard for approximately 2.5 miles before reaching 33rd Street. At 33rd Street, the line would turn east and continue along 33rd Street for approximately 0.9 miles to Date Palm Drive, where the line would turn north. On Date Palm Drive the line would continue north for 4.0 miles to the existing Garnet-Santa Rosa 115 kV ROW.
