Project Huckleberry

SRP received a request to provide energy to Meta's Mesa Data Center that will be located in Mesa, Arizona. To meet Meta's December 2022 in-service date, SRP will serve the Mesa Data Center from the 69 kV system, but to meet Meta's ultimate reliability requirement, Project Huckleberry will connect the data center to SRP's 230 kV transmission system. Serving the customer from the 230 kV transmission system allows SRP to not only reduce the amount of additional 69 kV lines that would have been required to provide the same amount of power, but also meets the customer's reliability needs.

The proposed project will be a double-circuit 230 kV transmission line that is approximately 0.5 mile in length from the point of interconnection (a physical location along the certificated Southeast Power Link Transmission Line) to the proposed Prickly Pear 230 kV Substation located on Meta's property. The transmission poles will support spans ranging from 200 to 700 feet. The average height of these poles will be 150 feet and special circumstances could require taller structures that would not exceed 199 feet.

SRP has an obligation to serve its customers with low-cost and reliable power. Overhead transmission lines are SRP's standard form of construction. Overhead lines meet SRP's dual objectives to provide low-cost and reliable power to all of its customers. In general, underground transmission lines cost roughly 10 times more than overhead lines. SRP will place overhead lines underground when a third party funds the additional cost.

Generally, transmission lines are not considered to be a material factor in the determination of property values. There are many variables to consider in the valuation process. Because each home is different, an appraiser would have to consider the home itself (e.g., square footage, age, condition) along with its unique characteristics (e.g., carport, two-or three-car garage, pool or no pool, lot size). The appraiser also would consider current market conditions of the neighborhood and its unique amenities (e.g., quality of schools, available retail shopping, restaurants, parks, other recreational amenities, ease of access via freeways and local streets). Given the number of variables to evaluate in the appraisal process and because this process is specific to each individual property, SRP is unable to address a request relating to a specific parcel.

Throughout the siting process, SRP encourages comments from the public through our dedicated information line and at the open house or by written comments submitted through our website. The Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) process includes a public hearing before the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee (LSC). During the hearing before the LSC, the LSC will accept public comments, typically on the first evening of the hearing. Once the LSC decides whether to issue a CEC for the project, the CEC is referred to the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), which then considers whether to affirm, deny or modify the CEC during an open meeting a minimum of 30 days after the LSC hearing ends.

The LSC hearing and the ACC Meeting are open to the public. Details of the hearing and the public comment session can be found here.