March 2024

  • Why do we care about 'green' energy? Is it still green if we fail to protect our environment and keep fragile ecosystems in tact? SanPedroFilm.com's new short-form documentary on the SunZia Project's impact explores these questions and provides background context for how it has developed

    RECOMMENDED:


February 2024

Archaeology Southwest has posted a video taken by drone which shows the carving up of the San Pedro for SunZia infrastructure:



  • A new docket number has been opened by the Arizona Corporation Commission, expressly for the Formal Complaint that was filed on February 5, 2023 by the Tohono O'odham Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, Archaeology Southwest, Center for Biological Diversity, and citizen-plaintiff Peter Else, regarding SunZia's initiation of construction prior to completing the requirements of two cultural resource conditions in their state permit. The docket number is L-00000YY-24-0042. Here is the link.

    The docket administrator sent a letter (included in the new docket) to SunZia today, notifying them that they have 20 days to file an Answer pursuant to AAC R14-3-106(H), which provides:
    "H. Answers. Answers to complaints are required and must be filed within 20 days after the date on which the complaint is served by the Commission, unless otherwise ordered by the Commission. All answers shall be full and complete and shall admit or deny specifically and in detail each allegation of the complaint to which such answer is directed. The answer shall include a motion to dismiss if a party desires to challenge the sufficiency of the complaint."


Summary of Recent SunZia-Related Activity
by Marissa Katz, manager of the Protect the San Pedro GoFundMe campaign


Hello friends of the San Pedro --

It's been a while since our last update on November 9th, and a lot has happened since then! There have been many huge and exciting developments that have occurred in our fight. Below, we list the big events that have taken place over the last three months, as well as links to learn more about each one.



✴ NOVEMBER ✴

★ On November 14th, 2023, the Hopi Tribe joined the disputing parties (the Pueblo of Zuni, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Tohono O’odham Nation, and Archaeology Southwest) in their formal Notice of Dispute with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and in the findings of fatal flaws in the process used by the BLM to complete the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 process for the proposed SunZia project.

      ➙ You can read their letter here: https://bit.ly/HopiLetter

      ➙ You can also read an interview with plaintiff Peter Else in KJZZ Fronteras here: https://bit.ly/PeterKJZZ

★ On November 27th, 2023, the BLM lifted the previously filed temporary suspension of SunZia’s activities within the San Pedro Valley LNTP (Limited Notice to Proceed), and construction resumed on November 29th, 2023. Locally in the Middle San Pedro, SunZia has cut access roads from 1.5 miles west of the river crossing at the Narrows 3.5 miles into Red Rock Canyon.

      ➙ You can read coverage in the AP here: https://bit.ly/APLiftedSuspension

      ➙ And you can read the official statement from BLM State Director Melanie Barnes about removing the temporary suspension here: https://bit.ly/BLMLiftSuspension



✴ DECEMBER ✴

★ On December 8th, 2023, the Tohono O’odham Nation and the San Carlos Apache Tribe responded to the BLM’s actions and BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning.

      ➙ The full letter, detailing their position, their disappointment in the lifting of the suspension before full identification of historic and cultural sites, and their desires for mitigation moving forward can be read here: https://bit.ly/TribesBLMResponse

★ Additionally on December 8th, the Tohono O’odham Nation and the San Carlos Apache Tribe notified the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) in a letter of their dispute with the BLM. They state that the BLM’s Historic Properties Treatment Plan (HPTP) filed with the ACC to fulfill Condition 12 of the Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) is “illegitimate and incomplete.” The Nation and Tribe also state that Pattern Energy violated Condition 27 of the CEC by starting construction before a cultural landscape study was conducted. They further state that the BLM refused to do this study. They ask the ACC to halt construction on SunZia until the CEC is complied with.

      ➙ You can read the full letter here: https://bit.ly/TribesNotifyACC

★ On December 14th, attorneys for Peter Else filed their opening brief in the Arizona Court of Appeals. The case challenges the Arizona permit for the amended version of the SunZia Transmission Project, issued by the Arizona Corporation Commission on November 21, 2022. The SunZia project has undergone multiple changes in purpose, scope, and route since 2006. Their original Arizona permit was issued by the Commission in 2016. Else established legal standing as a party to the Arizona proceedings in 2015 because of his concerns about the adverse ecological impacts of the project.

      ➙ You can read Peter Else’s statement and a short case summary here: https://bit.ly/PeterStatement

      ➙ You can read the full opening brief here: https://bit.ly/ElseACCOpeningBrief



✴ JANUARY ✴

★ On January 17th, 2024, a new lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Plaintiffs Tohono O’odham Nation, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Archaeology Southwest, and the Center for Biological Diversity against the Defendants U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland, and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This suit is a “complaint for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief.”

This action challenges the BLM’s failure to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), among other things, in issuing its Limited Notices to Proceed to SunZia Transmission, which would cut through the heart of the middle and lower San Pedro Valley and cause serious, irreversible adverse effects on Tribal cultural sites and sacred areas, including areas with human remains.

      ➙ You can read the full filing here: https://bit.ly/LawsuitCBDTribesASW

      ➙ You can read an article about the case in Bloomberg here: https://bit.ly/LawsuitBloomberg

      ➙ And an article in the Arizona Republic here: https://bit.ly/LawsuitAZRepublic

★ On January 30th, The Tohono O'odham Nation and San Carlos Apache Tribe filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to stop construction of the SunZia Transmission Line through Arizona's San Pedro Valley, as well as a request for an expedited hearing for their lawsuit previously filed on January 17th.

The Nation and Tribe's ongoing lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management contends that the BLM violated the National Historic Preservation Act by failing to make "reasonable and good faith efforts" to identify historic properties and consult with the Tribes.

      ➙ You can read the filing here: https://bit.ly/MotionTRO



✴ FEBRUARY ✴

★ On February 5, 2024, attorneys for the Tohono O’odham Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Center for Biological Diversity, Archaeology Southwest, and citizen-intervenor Peter Else filed a formal complaint before the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) regarding SunZia’s violation of conditions in their state permit that require SunZia to complete a cultural landscape study and a historic properties treatment plan before beginning any construction. Although SunZia has admitted that neither of these have been completed, SunZia has already begun construction in Arizona.

The parties represented in this Complaint are asking the ACC to (1) enforce the state permit by ordering SunZia to cease construction until these cultural resource requirements are complied with, and (2) advise SunZia that failing to do so will result in suspension of the state permit until SunZia complies with these cultural resource requirements.

      ➙ You can read the full filing here: https://bit.ly/ComplaintACC

      ➙ You can read the press release published on February 6th here: https://bit.ly/ComplaintPressRelease

      ➙ You can read an op-ed that was published in the Arizona Daily Star on February 2nd, before this most recent filed complaint, here: https://bit.ly/OpEdADS


------------------------------
As you can see, the fight has ramped up significantly! While we are disappointed that SunZia is continuing construction in the San Pedro Valley, we remain steadfast and hopeful in our and our partners’ efforts. As a reminder, this GoFundMe raises money for Peter Else’s legal cases. We stand in solidarity with the Tohono O’odham Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Pueblo of Zuni, the Hopi Tribe, the Center for Biological Diversity, Archaeology Southwest, and all others who are working to protect the cultural, historical, and ecological sites in the San Pedro Valley.

Thank you for your support. Please continue to share this story and our fundraising efforts!
  • Feb. 5, 2024 – Complaint before Arizona Corporation Commission

    Attorneys for the Tohono O'odham Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Center for Biological Diversity, Archaeology Southwest, and citizen-intervenor Peter Else filed a formal complaint before the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) regarding SunZia's violation of conditions in their state permit. SunZia is required to complete a cultural landscape study and a historic properties treatment plan before starting construction. Although SunZia admits that these have not been completed, construction has started in Arizona.

    The complainants ask the ACC to (1) order SunZia to cease construction until these requirements of the state permit are complied with, and (2) advise SunZia that failing to do so will result in suspension of the state permit until these requirements are complied with.

January 2024

  • Jan. 30, 2023 – Motion for Temporary Restraining Order

    The Tohono O'odham Nation and San Carlos Apache Tribe requested a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to stop construction of the SunZia Transmission Line through Arizona's San Pedro Valley.

    The San Pedro Valley is one of the most intact cultural landscapes in southern Arizona, if not in the entire Southwest. The Nation and Tribe's ongoing lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management contends that the BLM violated the National Historic Preservation Act by failing to make "reasonable and good faith efforts" to identify historic properties and consult with the Tribes.

  • Jan 17th - New Lawsuit

    The Tohono O’odham Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, Archaeology Southwest, and the Center for Biological Diversity sue the BLM, the US Department of the Interior and the Secretary of the Interior.

    Here is a copy of the official COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY JUDGMENT AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF


    In the photo below [from the above Injunction], you can see initial SunZia destruction being done by its owner, Pattern Energy. Their contractor is the Canadian company Valard Construction, whose homepage has impressive images of powerlines marring various landscapes. The Canadian Pension Fund is the new owner of Pattern Energy (read more here).

December 2023

  • Peter Else is challenging the Arizona permit for the amended version of the SunZia Transmission Project in the Arizona Court of Appeals. His attorneys filed their opening brief December 14, 2023.

    Plaintiff Else states that the plan of electrical service in the 2022 amended CEC is substantially different from that of the original CEC granted in 2016. He alleges that the amended CEC would create a vertical monopoly of wind power generation and transmission, and would allow SunZia to no longer provide open access and reliability benefits to Arizona's electrical grid that would have been legally required in the original 2016 CEC.


November 2023

BREAKING (Nov 9th):

 "...the BLM has ordered an immediate temporary suspension of SunZia’s activities authorized within the San Pedro Valley LNTP, covering an approximately 50-mile segment in Arizona..."

This is a quote from a letter written by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Tracy Stone-Manning yesterday, November 8th, in response to the October 31st letter written by the Tohono O’odham Nation, in conjunction with the San Carlos Apache Tribe and Archaeology Southwest. The October 31st letter made an "urgent request" for an immediate halt to the harmful destruction of the San Pedro Valley by the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project, due to failures of the BLM to identify and consult with Native tribes regarding properties of traditional religious and cultural importance. Director Stone-Manning's letter ordered an immediate temporary suspension of SunZia's activities along 50 miles of the San Pedro Valley, responding to the formal protest lodged in August by the San Carlos Apache Tribe, Zuni Tribe, Tohono O'odham Nation, and Archaeology Southwest, as well as to the aforementioned October 31st letter sent to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

  • 11/13/23 - Associated Press is covering the SunZia work suspension and letter from the Tohono O'odham coalition

  • Request for Halt of SunZia Construction in the San Pedro Valley

    The Tohono O’odham Nation, in conjunction with the San Carlos Apache Tribe and Archaeology Southwest, have requested an immediate halt to the harmful destruction of the San Pedro Valley by the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project. Their letter was addressed to U.S. Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland. The disputing parties state that it is unlawful for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to authorize the initiation of construction because of failures by the BLM to identify and consult with Native tribes regarding properties of traditional religious and cultural importance. See the referenced letter for full details.

  • Locally, SunZia has cut access roads from 1.5 miles west of the river crossing at the Narrows 3.5 miles into Red Rock Canyon.

    Read AZ DailyStar article which covers the Tohono O'odham letter


September 2023

  • Peter Else plans to appeal AZ Superior Court decision on SunZia Amendments. See 9/1/23 AP article
    "I disagree with those who believe that poorly planned projects like SunZia should now be used as the pretext for granting the federal government even greater authority to sidestep legitimate state and local concerns over federal powerline siting decisions."


August 2023


June 2023

PRESS RELEASE (excerpt):

On June 22nd, attorneys for citizen-plaintiff Peter Else filed in Arizona Superior Court their final written reply brief relating to the SunZia Transmission Project's amended Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC).

Plaintiff Else argues that SunZia's original CEC, approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) in 2016, was for a package deal that included benefits to Arizona that can no longer be assured. The amended CEC split the original project into two separate projects, which Else argues must now be reviewed independently. The ACC has statutory responsibilities to safeguard both Arizona's electrical supply and Arizona's most ecologically sensitive lands when it reviews a transmission proposal.

The brief asks that SunZia's amended CEC be vacated and remanded to the ACC with instructions as to the applicable legal standards. The next step in the case is expected to be the scheduling of oral argument.

    Read the full press release from the Cascabel Conservation Association here.


May 2023

  • Opening Brief filed in Arizona Superior Court contesting the November 21st decision by the Arizona Corporation Commission to approve a new set of changes to what would now be two separate permits granted to Pattern Energy and Southwestern Power Group. Plaintiff argues that state laws were violated and false statements were incorporated into the Commission's Order.

April 2023

  • Here is a High Country News article that gives a fairly balanced view of some of the environmental issues involved in providing renewable power to California via long-distance transmission

March 2023


Two formal protests have been submitted to the BLM objecting to the Right-of-Way Amendment made on the proposed SunZia project's FEIS, and to the Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment on the Socorro field office's Resource Management Plan.

Link 1: Coalition Protest from
Link 2: Protest from Archaeology Southwest

February 2023

Attorneys for plaintiff Peter Else are discussing the terms of the Complaint they filed in Superior Court on January 24, 2023 with attorneys for the Arizona Corporation Commission and SunZia. With SunZia representatives publicly talking about ground disturbing activities taking place even before having a final decision on their federal permit, the attorneys for the plaintiff understand that the Complaint must move forward quickly.

For those opposing the irresponsible routing of the project, the basic problem remains the same. The proposed SunZia infrastructure corridor would be co-located with existing extra-high-voltage (EHV) lines for only 37% of its route in Arizona. With alternative routes through Arizona that would be up to 100% co-located with EHV lines, there is no need to make a false choice between connecting California markets with New Mexico wind energy or fragmenting 33 miles of previously undisturbed critical wildlife corridors in the middle San Pedro Valley.

Cascabel Working Group has partnered with local volunteers to streamline our fundraising. If you want to contribute to the legal effort to stop SunZia from opening a major new infrastructure corridor in the San Pedro Valley, DONATE on our GoFundMe site here. All donations sent to this site will be forwarded to the Cascabel Conservation Association (CCA) and will be tax-deductible. CCA will use all of those GoFundMe donations to pay for legal expenses.



January 2023

BIG NEWS!

Attorneys for Peter Else have filed a Complaint against the Arizona Corporation Commission with the Superior Court on January 24th!
Click here for the full text.


The counts against the ACC begin on page 55 and include:
  • Unlawful Determination:Failure to Consider Each CEC Separately
  • Unlawful Determination: The Commission Acted Arbitrarily and Capriciously by Failing to Consider an Important Aspect of the Problem
  • Unlawful Determination: The Commission Acted Arbitrarily and Capriciously by Considering Factors Irrelevant to the Statute
  • Unlawful Determination: No Substantial Evidence as a Matter of Law
  • Unlawful Determination: Application to Amend Failed to Notice Substantial Changes
  • Declaratory Judgment

..and (starting on p.70) the relief requested includes:

  1. Expedited consideration
  2. Vacate, set aside, and reverse the Commission’s Decision No. 78769, and No. 75464
  3. Declare that each CEC in this case must be assessed independently
  4. Declare that environmental justice considerations, global climate change, job creation and economic development, the since-invalidated Clean Power Plan may not factor into the Commission’s decision
  5. Declare that the Commission acted arbitrarily and capriciously by failing to recognize the change in the lack of a WECC rating.
  6. Declare that the Commission acted arbitrarily and capriciously by failing to consider the possibility that the second line might never be built.
  7. Declare that the Commission acted arbitrarily and capriciously by considering extraneous factors such as environmental justice, global climate change, and job creation.

    [These factors can be considered by the federal oversight agency, which in this case is the New Mexico office of the BLM. They failed to offer Arizona route options that would not only consider these factors, but would also comply with Arizona's line siting and environmental compatibility statutes. They allowed the federal permit process to be dominated by the electricity marketing interests of New Mexico, California, and the corporate applicant.]

  8. Declare that, as a matter of law, the possible availability of financing for an interstate merchant line is not substantial evidence of fulfilling the need for an adequate, economical, and reliable supply of electric power in Arizona given the speculative nature of where the power would primarily be marketed and the ecological damage that unused transmission lines could cause.
  9. Declare that, as a matter of law, an applicant’s own hearsay testimony that it is in talks with Arizona utilities for power is not substantial evidence of those utilities’ needs.
  10. Declare that SunZia’s application was not properly noticed for failing to mention the AC line was to be built first in the original CEC and for failing to indicate that SunZia would be seeking to change the expiration date of the Willow Substation to the expiration date for the second line.


December 2022

On Nov. 9, the ACC voted 5-0 to approve the 2 Certificates of Environmental Compatibility that were recommended by the Line Siting Committee. There was no discussion or rationale offered.

The struggle is not over. Peter Else, an intervenor who lives about 45 miles downstream of Cascabel, is now being represented by a law firm based in Phoenix. CWG supports Peter's volunteer efforts and, along with others, wants to help fund the legal costs associated with his intervention in SunZia's latest permit process.

Here is a copy of his latest filing:
https://docket.images.azcc.gov/0000208180.pdf?i=1671128470595
If you want to contribute to our legal effort to stop SunZia from opening a new infrastructure corridor in the San Pedro Valley, DONATE here.



November 2022
  • Watch videos of testimony before the ACC on the SunZia amendments from Peter Else and Woody Hume (first two in the list)


    The ACC Commissioners will likely vote on the proposed SunZia project amendments on November 9th (2022).

    The public has until November 8th to submit written comments.
    Written comments can be submitted using this form or they can be emailed directly to the commissioners. Be sure to put docket number, L-00000YY-15-0318-00171, in the form or on the email subject line
    • OConnor-Web@azcc.gov
    • Olson-web@azcc.gov
    • lmarquezpeterson-web@azcc.gov
    • SDKennedy-Web@azcc.gov
    • Tovar-Web@azcc.gov

    Videos and Appeal from our friends at SanPedrofilm.com:
    Hello supporter of the San Pedro River,

    You have either attended the screening of Vigneto: Yes or No?
    or signed up for email updates at SanPedroFilm.com. This is the first email update I am sending out since the screening in January, 2021.

    The reason is that a huge power line - SunZia - threatens the San Pedro River, as well as the Rio Grande and Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. SunZia is a gigantic energy project carrying wind power from an enormous field in central New Mexico to California with potentially minimal energy benefit for Arizona. It may simply be a pass-through for California.

    The SunZia project was approved by ACC in 2016, was bought by the multi billion dollar energy corporation, Pattern, in June 2022, and is now seeking approval of changes from the Arizona Corporation Commission. ACC will do the final review of the project on November 9 and 10. There was a possibility for public comment at that meeting but it is now being questioned by the Commission Chairwoman. NOTE: Pattern is owned by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Riverstone LLC, a top private equity firm with over $40 billion in assets including oil and gas holdings (http://riverstonellc.com/).

    No media is writing about it. No lawsuits are being filed. SunZia has all the paperwork and just needs one final green light from the Arizona Corporation Commission. One of very few individuals who have raised concerns about this huge development since 2008 is Peter Else of the Lower San Pedro Watershed Alliance.

    Peter has appeared before the ACC many times, highlighting problems with the SunZia proposal and arguing for changes to it. Below are 1-2 min clips from Peter's latest appearance last week. The videos have technical information and details about the approval process but you do not have to understand the specifics to get the gist, which is that the power line would seriously harm the San Pedro and is not demonstrably beneficial to Arizona.

    What I hope to do with this email is to inspire you to convince ACC to:
    1. receive public comment on the proposed changes in the SunZia line
    2. send Pattern back to the drawing board to:


    October 2022

    The ACC's Line Siting Committee voted 9-0 (one abstention) in support of the amendments to SunZia's CEC. However, the [unelected] Line Siting Committee does not have final say. The final decision will be made by the elected members of the Corporation Commission itself.

    This docket contains details of the [interesting] history of these amendments. It also sets up the public comment process shown below.


    Please consider making comments to the commission.
    --->Here are some thoughts and potential talking points we've assembled that might be helpful as you organize your ideas.



    Public Comment (phone or in person) will be taken by the Commission on Wednesday and Thursday, October 12th and 13th.


    *Note that Wednesday will be by phone only and thursday may also be in person in Phoenix.


    How to call in to the Commission hearings:
    According to a very helpful woman in the Commission's Hearing Division (602-542-4250), to participate by phone in the public-comment process next week (Wednesday evening and Thursday morning) people need to do the following:

    • Call 1-888-450-5996
    • When prompted for a "participant code," enter 457395#
    • Stay on the line, muted, until called -- people will be called by the last four digits of their phone number
    • Unmute themselves and ask, "Can you hear me?" and then (if they get an affirmative reply) introduce themselves and make their comments.
    Supposedly, the phone number should be operable starting 30 minutes before the start of the hearing. But for a lot of that time, you'd probably just hear people dialing in and entering the participant code. Calling in 15 minutes before the start of the hearing should be fine -- i.e., 5:45pm on Wednesday evening, 8:45am on Thursday morning.


    Written Comments. According to the Pattern website, written comments can be submitted using this form or they can be emailed directly to the commissioners. Be sure to put docket number, L-00000YY-15-0318-00171, in the form or on the email subject line
    • OConnor-Web@azcc.gov
    • Olson-web@azcc.gov
    • lmarquezpeterson-web@azcc.gov
    • SDKennedy-Web@azcc.gov
    • Tovar-Web@azcc.gov


    September 2022

    Sept 6 Hearings of the Arizona Line Siting Committee [now completed]

    Please check https://patternenergy.com/sunzia-project-details-and-documents/ for the updated hearing stream links, including the zoom link if you would like to comment. (view only).
    [It seems unusual that the links are on Pattern's website and not the corporation commission's.]

    Here is the comment period replay; video starts at 8:30. It appears they have taken the replay of the comment period down (?)
    [How ironic that the intro picture is a beautiful scene from undisturbed desert lands!, free of any hint of powerlines.]

    Sept 9: It seems the best way to get the hearing replay links is to search on 'sunzia' in the vimeo.com search box, or click here.There are no longer any videos of the hearings available that we know of.



    Dear Friends and Colleagues,

    We recommend to everyone that you attend as many of the Line Siting hearings in person as possible. If you can only go to one, make it the public comment session on the evening of September 6 [details below in the August section of this page]. Invite a friend to go with you and make a comment. We would like a great showing of concerned citizens.

    If you would like to submit a written comment, according to the assistant to the Chairman of the Line Siting Committee, you will need to submit it BEFORE the hearings start on September 6. We think the best way will be to go to the Utilities Public Comment Form on-line https://efiling.azcc.gov/online-services/utilities-public-comment-external. There is a short form to fill out with your information, and the company name you are commenting on. Put in SunZia Transmission and the DOCKET NO.: L-00000YY-15 -0318-00171. There is space on the form for 5000 characters, plus you can upload a file. The chairman's assistant says this: Those comments will be filed into the docket by Docket Control Staff and would then be readily available to the Committee Members for viewing. Notice that he doesn't guarantee that they actually are required to read the comments, but it looks like the best we can do. You can submit a written comment even if you also appear in person.

    Write what is meaningful to you. If you can't think of anything else, you can at least say that this project was always poorly and haphazardly planned, and was never vetted beyond alternatives that were acceptable to the proponent, which is why it ended up with a proposed route through the San Pedro Valley. It just keeps getting worse, with higher towers, and more new roads and the potential for a major construction yard in the heart of Cascabel.

    The For/Against can seem a bit confusing. Mark the "Against" box. We are advocating for the ACC to NOT grant SunZia's request for amendments.

    Thanks to all-- your participation is important.



    August 2022

    Prepare comments for the Sept 6 Arizona Line Siting Committee SunZia hearing

    There will be public hearings of the Arizona Line Siting Committee about changes in the SunZia Project since the Certificate of Environmental Compatibility was issued in 2016.

    The hearings will start:
    Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 1:00 p.m.** and continue each weekday until completed.

    Biosphere 2
    32540 S. Biosphere Road
    Oracle, Arizona 85739

    Meeting details can be found on the Line Siting Committee's schedule here.
    (the easiest way to find the SunZia hearing is to look in the Location column for Biosphere 2)


    There are two ways to comment:
    • in person at the hearing
    • in writing
    1. In Person Comments. **Public comment will be taken in a special evening session on Tuesday, September 6, beginning at 5:30 PM, via telephone, Zoom, or in person at Biosphere 2.

    2. Written Comments. According to the assistant to the Chairman of the Line Siting Committee, written comments need to submitted before the hearings start on September 6.
    To submit a written comment, go to the Utilities Public Comment Form There is a short form to fill out with your information, and the company name you are commenting on (put in SunZia Transmission). The DOCKET NO. is: L-00000YY-15 -0318-00171.

    There is space on the form for 5000 characters, plus you can upload a file. The chairman's assistant says this: Those comments will be filed into the docket by Docket Control Staff and would then be readily available to the Committee Members for viewing.

    You can submit a written comment -and- also appear in person.

    Even if you choose not to comment, please consider attending in person, as there is power in the presence of concerned citizens. Information about how to attend by phone or Zoom will be posted here as it becomes available.

    We encourage everyone to attend! ----------




    July 2022
    • ** Consolidated comments on the DEIS (draft environmental impact statement) have been submitted ** on behalf of the Cascabel Working Group, LSPWA, Cascabel Conservation Association, Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of Oracle State Park

    • BLM approves construction of Ariz.-to-Calif. power line - E&E News (eenews.net)
      The Bureau of Land Management has authorized construction to begin on a 125-mile-long transmission line project across Arizona and Southern California that is projected to help carry electricity generated from renewable energy sources to customers in both states.

      The Obama-era 500-kilovolt Ten West Link transmission line has been in the works since early 2016, and a record of decision approving the project was issued by former President Donald Trump’s BLM in November 2019.
    • Pattern Energy has completed its purchase of the SunZia project.

    June 2022
    • Important Update from LSPWA -->
      Appeal to Conservation Groups
      - summary of SunZia status with references
    • From Tucson Audubon:
      SunZia Transmission Project Attempts to Evade Environmental Review

      Tucson Audubon strongly supports rapid, large-scale development of renewable energy, especially the Southwest’s most abundant form — solar. But we strongly oppose pitting renewable energy against environmental protection, as the developers of the SunZia energy-transmission project have been doing for years. For the sake of the critically endangered San Pedro River and the globally significant biodiversity it supports — especially its birds! — as well as to prevent a dangerous precedent, please click on this link and help stop SunZia’s latest attempt to evade environmental review.

      Last summer, the SunZia transmission project entered another National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process — its third in twelve years! — this time for proposed amendments to its existing right-of-way approval. While this federal review is taking place, SunZia has asked the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to approve the necessary state permits without any public evidentiary hearings.

      After reviewing the case, ACC staff have recommended that the Commission reject SunZia’s request. Please join Tucson Audubon in insisting that the Commission follow its staff’s recommendation and require public evidentiary hearings for SunZia’s state permitting application.

      Earlier this year, the San Pedro River — one of the last, major free-flowing rivers in the desert Southwest, supporting one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in North America — was named one of America’s ten most endangered rivers. Already depleted by excessive groundwater pumping, and facing multiple other threats, the San Pedro and its wildlife must not be further endangered by an environmentally irresponsible, behind-closed-doors permitting process.

      Click here for help emailing, calling, or writing the Arizona Corporation Commissioners and urging them to require public evidentiary hearings on SunZia’s proposed plan amendments.

      Thank you for taking action with Tucson Audubon!

    May 2022
    • SunZia's desired amendments are at both Federal and State levels. On May 13th, SunZia filed a docket with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to pass through its amendments to the Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) with no public hearing:
      "SunZia respectfully requests Commission approve the amendments without an evidentiary hearing..."

      Peter Else of the LSPWSA has submitted a filing on the seriousness and importance of holding evidentiary hearings on SunZia's requests, outlining 7 significant changes to the existing CEC that must be publicly discussed.

    • UtilityDive article: Current SunZia owner, MMR Group (which owns SouthWestern Power group), is set to sell to Pattern Energy.   Pattern is the owner of the New Mexico wind farm that would be SunZia's anchor tenant. Pattern is negotiating with the FERC to obtain 100% of the capacity of the proposed 3000MW first line. This would make Pattern both the provider and the transmitting agent (SunZia)---a virtually private tie-line monopoly.



    April 2022

    March 2022
    • SunZia: "15 years in red tape" - In this Albuquerque Journal article about Pattern Energy (the corporation that owns the New Mexico wind farms that would 'anchor' the proposed SunZia line), the author attempts to brand the long-distance transmission of power to California as the Route 66 of renewable energy


    July 2021

       Scoping Comments
    • LSPWA (Lower San Pedro Watershed Alliance) - DEIS comments

    • DEIS scoping comments from a managing member of the Southline Transmission Project
      ...Southline may be impacted by the proposed SunZia amendments, therefore Southline has an interest in this process. Southline also has unique industry and geographic knowledge that may be helpful to the BLM and Cooperating Agencies in their assessment of alternatives.


    June 2021


    Hello,


    My name is Adrian Garcia, and I am the Project Manager for the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) SunZia Southwest Transmission Project. This morning, the BLM published the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register, which begins the 30-day Scoping period. Please see the attached newsletter for more information.

    How can I submit a comment?

    You can submit comments in the following ways:


    Attn: Adrian Garcia
    301 Dinosaur Trail
    Santa Fe, NM 87508

    Please submit comments by July 6, 2021.




    How will the BLM use my comments?

    The BLM will use substantive comments to help the BLM Interdisciplinary Team identify issues and refine the proposed action, develop measures to mitigate potential negative effects, and develop alternatives to the proposed action that meet the agencies’ purpose and need and address key issues. Substantive comments 1) avoid opinions and are specific, 2) describe the significance of the impacts and how the impacts affect you, others, places, and activities, 3) provide any new information relevant to the project, and/or 4) discuss modifications to existing alternatives or suggest other reasonable alternatives with justification. Substantive comments can create change within the project, provide alternatives or mitigation options, change the analysis of the project, and help the BLM make more informed decisions.

    How can I stay informed on the SunZia Project?

    • Visitthe Project’s ePlanning site: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2011785/510

    • Contact Adrian Garcia, Project Manager, at the BLM New Mexico State Office at (505) 954-2199 or agarcia@blm.gov for any specific Project inquiries or to add your name to the email or mailing list.

    • Persons who use a telecommunications device for the hearing impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question.



    Thank you,

    Adrian Garcia
    Realty Specialist/Project Manager
    Bureau of Land Management
    New Mexico State Office
    (505) 954-2199


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