BY MARSHA L. MELNICHAK
Northwest Arkansas Times Fayetteville's Historic District Commission wants to be heard on the question of more powerful power lines and taller power poles across the city's downtown streets along Gregg Avenue. The commission voted unanimously Monday night to petition for a right to be heard by the Public Service Commission on whether a public hearing about the new lines should be required. Southwestern Electric Power Company is planning to enlarge a voltage line from 69, 000 to 161, 000 volts for about four miles from the substation on Powerhouse Drive north along Gregg Street. To support the new lines, the company is proposing new steel 85-foot towers to replace the current 65-foot towers.
"This is similar, to us, to proposing putting power lines in front of the Statue of Liberty," said Commissioner Rob Sharp, who described the proposal as a major set back for the community.
Irene Pritchard, who lives in the historic Gregg House in the immediate vicinity of the proposed new lines, pointed out that the difference between the old poles and the new ones is the difference between being above the tree line or below it.
Another option is to go underground.
Deweese said it is possible - but very rare - to bury 161, 000 volt lines.
SWEPCO, which operates in several states, never has, he said.
"It gets down to do we want to have somewhat of a reliable electric service," said Deweese, who said growth in the area has prompted the need to upgrade the lines.
"When we say it has to be rebuilt, we mean it has to be rebuilt," he said. "Outages are not good for anyone."
Deweese said the company is replacing about the same number of poles and the same number of lines within the same right-of-way. He said the company has considered other solutions.
Any difference in cost between upgrading above ground and burying the lines underground would have to be reimbursed to SWEPCO, Deweese said.
He estimated that difference at roughly $ 3 million to $ 4 million.
"You can't ask other rate payers to pay for a beautification project in Fayetteville, because it's not fair to DeQueen or Ashton or Texarkana, and vice versa - because we are a public utility," he said.
A big part of the cost is the digging, the ditching and tearing up the streets, he said. If the city, or some other entity, would do that work, some of the cost could perhaps be subtracted, he said.
"Burying it, if you come up with the dollars, that may be the best thing," said Deweese.
He indicated the company is not against going underground if some entity agrees to pay the difference.
Still, he described it as being extremely expensive and said it would cost more than dollars.
Putting the lines underground would mean tearing up Gregg Avenue, Dickson Street and any others depending on how long the underground section was.
He told commissioners that, while ice storms and tree trimming are minimal problems with underground lines and outages may be fewer, they are harder to repair and have longer outages.
According to Deweese, all SWEPCO asked the Public Service Commission for was for clarification on how to proceed.
Ward 2 Alderman Don Marr said he didn't buy the argument that they were just asking for an opinion about what to do. The request has previously been described as a request to skip public hearings on the upgrade.
Marr reminded commissioners that the city even has an ordinance about new developments having underground lines and has requested the federal government for funds to bury lines on College Avenue. That sends a message about how important the issue is and what citizens want, he said.
Sharp said the current mix of poles and lines is not great but the proposal is worse.
Commissioners cited the view corridor, quality of space and place, respect for growth and seeing preservation in the context of Fayetteville.
They said that with more time and thought, perhaps a different solution could be found, or a way could be found to pay the additional cost.
A public hearing provides that time, Sharp said.
Commissioner Cindy Kalke said even after a public hearing, the same solution of aboveground lines may be reached, but if the public is involved it would be a stronger decision with, perhaps, more buy-in and more understanding.
"We all absolutely celebrate the growth of the city; but I think at the same time, we have a careful regard for maintaining the qualities of place and character that have made Fayetteville so vital and susceptible to growth in the first place," said Ethel Goodstein-Murphree, chairman of the historic commission, voicing the unanimous decision of the commission to go ahead with a petition to intervene.
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