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Doug Bechtel
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If you remember from past OPALCOGRAMS, we updated our Long Range Plan in 1995. One of the things that this plan showed us was that our transmission capability to move power to Eastsound was becoming limited, and major system improvements would have to be made to enable us to reliably meet our loads in the future. At the time we did the study, our information was based on computer simulations of our transmission and submarine cable network. Since that time, we have put some recording equipment in the Eastsound substation which has verified what the computer told us - we are running out of time to upgrade our ability to move large amounts of power into Eastsound during a winter cold snap.
While this may sound easy, there are several steps that must be taken before we can do this. Much of the work called for in the Long Range Plan has already taken place. The overhead transmission line across Lopez and Orcas was upgraded to operate at 69,000 volts in 1980 and 1981. We installed 69,000 volt submarine cables in the Lopez/Shaw and Shaw/Orcas crossings in 1992. Today they operate at 25,000 volts but are able to operate at 69,000 volts.
What we still need to do is to build the Orcas substation so that it can operate at 69,000 volts and update the Shaw substation so that it can operate at the same voltage. We need to build new submarine cable terminals on Orcas and Shaw, connect up one existing 69,000 volt submarine cable and purchase two more 69,000 volt cables. In 1995, we estimated that this work would cost $4,300,000.
We recently purchased property on Orcas Island near Boede's Corner as a new site for the Orcas substation. The site is on the east side of Horseshoe Highway between Eastman Road and Pinneo Road. By moving the substation further to the north, we are improving our ability to move power to the West Sound and Deer Harbor area while still providing reliable services to the Orcas ferry landing area. The new substation will be completed and put in operation in 1998. Shortly after that, we will begin building submarine cable terminals on Shaw and Orcas. The Orcas cable terminal will be at the site of the existing Orcas substation - just north of the ferry parking lot. It will be the year 2000 before all of the work is completed, but this is one of the biggest projects that we have undertaken in the last 10-20 years.
Over the next couple of months, we will be doing the site preparation work at the new Orcas substation and installing the necessary fencing. We have spent a lot of time and effort in siting this substation to minimize the visual and environmental impacts. I think you will be very pleased with how well the substation will fit in with the landscape and how much it will improve the reliability to the southwest portion of Orcas Island.
Doug Bechtel
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