Orono_Route_Permit_Application - Docket # W002/TL-11-223

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adjacent hillside which will be held back by the installation of a retaining wall along the southwest corner of the graded area. An additional berm with prairie landscaping and trees, suitable to the existing setting, is planned along the western property line for substation screening purposes. Mitigation is also provided by using double circuit transmission structures which minimizes the number of transmission structures and right-of-way needed for the Project. Replacing the existing wood three -pole Structure 077 with a single pole structure at a new location off of residential property will also mitigate aesthetic impacts. At the new substation site, Xcel Energy will design and construct the new facility to minimize impacts to existing vegetation and trees, as well as provide additional screening, as needed. Xcel Energy will work with landowners to identify concerns related to the proposed substation and transmission line aesthetics. 6.2.7 Socioeconomic Impacts Census data from 2010 was not fully available at the time this Route Permit Application was prepared. Socioeconomic data was obtained from the 2000 U.S. Census. The average per capita income is $65,825 in the City of Orono (2000) and $28,789 in Hennepin County (2000). Compared to the state or county average, the Project is located in an area that does not contain disproportionately high minority or low-income populations. No disproportionate impacts on minority or low-income populations are anticipated from the Project. Persons living in Hennepin County have a slightly higher median family income when compared with the rest of the state. The percentage of families with income levels below the federal poverty line is approximately 5.0 percent in Hennepin County (2000), which is slightly lower than the state average. Within the City of Orono, the average median family income is higher than that of the rest of the state. The percentage of families below the federal poverty line in the City of Orono is approximately 0.5 percent (2000). Population and economic data from the 2010 and 2000 US Census is provided in Table 12. Table 12 Population and Economic Characteristics of the Project Location * Population characteristics are from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 data. * Economic characteristics are from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 data. Approximately 15 to 25 workers will be needed over 26 weeks to construct the proposed transmission line and substation. During construction, construction crews will spend money locally, thereby providing a small economic benefit to the community. There will be short-term impacts on community services as a result of construction activity and an influx of contractor employees during construction the Project. Both utility personnel and contractors will be used for construction activities. The communities near the Project should experience short-term positive economic impacts through the use of the hotels, restaurants, and other services by the various workers. Orono Project June 7, 2011 MPUC Docket No. E002/TL-11-223 47