A transmission project that will connect a substation in central Utah to a substation in east-central Nevada took another key step forward with the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Forest Service announcing the availability of the project’s Final Environmental Impact Statement.
This document marks a key step in development of TransCanyon LLC’s Cross-Tie 500-kV Transmission Project.
"We are excited to announce the next stage for the proposed Cross-Tie 500-kV Transmission Project," said BLM West Desert District Manager Michael Gates. "This transmission line represents a critical pathway in the western grid, helping to improve resilience and reliability while boosting the delivery of renewable energy across western energy markets."
The Cross-Tie Project consists of approximately 214 miles of high-voltage transmission line, with a capacity of 1,500 megawatts and 500-kV high-voltage alternating current overhead transmission. The line will connect the Clover Substation in central Utah to the Robinson Summit Substation in east-central Nevada.
The FEIS, which was released Sept. 20, 2024, provides a detailed analysis of the project’s potential impacts, as well as proposed alternatives.
The FEIS also outlines key mitigation and environmental protection measures that TransCanyon has committed to following throughout construction, operations and ongoing maintenance.
"We appreciate the collaboration and expertise provided by the BLM Fillmore Field Office and cooperating agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service," said Roger Yensen, Principal Project Manager for TransCanyon. "Together, we have worked to ensure this project is developed responsibly and look forward to the final Record of Decision expected in winter 2024."
The Cross-Tie Project aims to provide significant benefits to the western energy market, including providing subscribers a direct link to the CAISO energy market at Robinson Summit once the SWIP-North Transmission Project comes in-service in 2027.
TransCanyon is owned by investor-owned Pinnacle West Capital and Berkshire Hathaway Energy.
