Environmental Assis for Orono Substation Expansion

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Proximity to Homes and Businesses and Displacement Transmission line facilities require certain clearances from buildings for safe operation of the transmission line. The required clearances are defined in the NESC and Xcel's standard engineering and design practices. As indicated in the route permit application, Xcel would acquire a right-of-way of 75 feet for the project, but has indicated that the project may be designed to overlap with existing transportation ROWs, thereby requiring less right-of-way while still satisfying the needs of the project. Displacement can occur when a structure is located within the proposed right-of-way for a new transmission line facility. The two routes evaluated would both parallel and follow existing railroad and road rights-of-way for a significant portion of their respective routes. Following the existing transportation rights-of-way helps the routes stay away from homes. For both routes the nearest home to the substation is approximately 180 feet south of Xcel Energy's property boundary (Xcel Energy, personal communication, October 18, 2011), and the nearest home to the transmission line is 275 feet (Xcel Energy, personal communication, November). One unoccupied outbuilding is 86 feet south of the proposed alignment (Xcel Energy, personal communication, November 17, 2011). Based on a review of aerial photographs and a site visit, the routing and construction of the transmission line and associated facilities will not require the displacement of any homes or businesses. Property Values One of the first concerns of many residents near existing or proposed transmission lines is how that proximity to the line could affect the value of their property. Research on this issue does not identify a clear cause and effect relationship between the two. Instead, the presence of a transmission line becomes one of several factors that interact to affect the value of a particular property. Because of the large number of factors that influence the value of a specific property, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to predict the effect that a specific transmission facility would have on a specific property. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin addressed the issue of changes in property value associated with high-voltage transmission lines in their Final Environmental Impact Statement on the Arrowhead — Weston Electric Transmission Line Project (Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, 2000). Their analysis of the relationship between property values and transmission lines looked at approximately 30 papers, articles and court cases covering the period from 1987 through 1999. The Wisconsin analysis identified two types of property value impacts that property owners may experience: (1) potential economic impact associated with the amount paid by a utility for a right-of- way easement, and (2) potential economic impact regarding the future marketability of the property. The Arrowhead — Weston Electric Transmission Line Project Final EIS provides the following six general observations from the studies it evaluated. • The potential reduction in sale price for single family homes may range from 0 to 14 percent. Environmental Assessment PUC Docket E002/TL-11-223 Page 23