Environmental Assis for Orono Substation Expansion

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• Alternative Substation Site 1: This site is comprised of three small parcels owned by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) between U.S. Highway 12 and Sixth Avenue South and is zoned the same as Xcel Energy's current substation site. These parcels are not large enough for development of the proposed substation of 1.6 acres and additional area necessary for setbacks. The actual developable area of these parcels is likely to be further reduced based on observed wetlands on the parcels and possible additional setbacks or buffers from U.S. Highway 12. The estimated length of transmission line from this site is approximately 0.54 miles, or approximately 0.15 miles more than Xcel Energy's proposed route. • Alternative Substation Site 2: This site is comprised of three parcels owned by the Park Gun Club. This site is zoned as "Rural Residential, one home to 2 acres." The Park Gun Club is a nonconforming use in that location and is prevented from making any changes to its current use, including the layout of the shooting range. It does not appear that there is sufficient space within the parcel to locate both the gun club with its current layout and the substation, resulting in a likely displacement of Gun Club. Orono zoning does not permit gun clubs within the city; the club would not be able to re -locate within Orono. Anecdotal information indicates that gun clubs are very difficult to locate within metropolitan areas. The estimated length of transmission line from this site is approximately 0.76 miles, or approximately 0.4 miles more than Xcel Energy's proposed route. • Alternative Site 3: This site is owned by the city of Orono. The site is zoned as "RR -113," allowing one home per two acres. This 39 acre property was donated to the city in 2000 for use as a passive natural environmental park; the donation specified restrictive covenants limiting improvements to the park to allow only for passive recreational uses. The city's 2030 Land Use Plan identifies this site as "Park, Recreation, and Open Space." The parcel is bounded to the north by several residential lots. Routing would require avoidance of the cloverleaf intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and Wayzata Boulevard. The estimated length of transmission line from this site is approximately 0.5 miles, or approximately 0.1 miles longer than Xcel Energy's proposed route. • Alternative Site 4: This privately -owned site is zoned as "RR -11i," allowing one home per two acres. The site is identified on the City's 2030 Land Use Plan as "High Density Residential." Depending upon the location of a substation on this parcel, use of this site would require approximately 6,500 feet of new double -circuit 115 kV transmission line, or approximately 3,400 feet more than the Proposed Route. As with Alternative Site 3, use of this site would require routing around the cloverleaf intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and Wayzata Boulevard. The estimated length of transmission line from this site is approximately 1.31 miles, or approximately 0.9 miles more than Xcel Energy's proposed route. All of the alternative substation sites would also require acquisition of new land by Xcel Energy for the substation and easements for additional transmission line to meet the purpose and need of the Project. Although no routes for the additional transmission to the alternate substation sites were developed, it appears that the alternate sites would require approximately 800 to 4,900 feet of additional double circuit 115 kV transmission compared to Xcel Energy's proposed route. Development of a new substation site would also require re -location of two existing electric distribution lines in addition to the transmission, resulting in additional impacts to new landowners. Environmental Assessment PUC Docket E002/TL-11-223 Page 8