Rocky Mountain Power plans 54-mile transmission line along I-15 in Southern Utah |
Three Peaks transmission project and Purgatory Flat transmission line, Public Input Sought |
For southern Utah residents, the Three Peaks transmission project raises a question that reaches beyond electricity: Where should new infrastructure go as the region grows?
Rocky Mountain Power is proposing a 54-mile, 345 kV transmission line between the Three Peaks Substation northwest of Cedar City and the Purgatory Flat Substation in Hurricane.
The preliminary route would largely parallel Interstate 15, placing the project alongside a corridor familiar to commuters, ranchers and visitors heading toward nearby public lands.
For the utility, the line is part of long-term planning to carry power reliably as communities expand and electricity demand increases.
For property owners along the potential route, the more immediate concern is what a transmission corridor could mean for wells, ranchland and everyday use of their land.
Those questions surfaced during recent open houses, where residents pressed the utility on how the proposed line might affect individual properties.
The stakes feel personal when a line on a planning map appears to cross a place someone calls home.
Utility representatives have said the alignment is not final and that they will examine conditions on the ground while working with affected property owners.
That leaves room for changes, but it does not yet resolve which parcels could ultimately be affected.
Some residents have asked whether the line could be buried instead of carried overhead, an option that may sound less disruptive at first glance.
Rocky Mountain Power officials say underground high-voltage lines would require more excavation and could cost substantially more, while repairs could take longer.
The proposed route also draws attention near the Kolob Canyons entrance to Zion National Park, where the visibility and placement of new infrastructure matter.
Officials have indicated that park representatives could participate as the review advances and that additional routing questions may be considered.
Environmental review remains ahead, so residents seeking firm answers about the project’s effects may have to wait as the planning process develops.
That uncertainty is a reason to speak up now, especially for people who know the land beyond what any route map can show.
The Purgatory Flat transmission line is still in an early phase, with public outreach and permitting expected to continue over the coming years.
Current planning points toward construction in the early 2030s and service beginning in 2033, though the schedule could change as reviews proceed.
That long runway may offer opportunities to refine the route, but it also means nearby communities could live with uncertainty for years.
Balancing dependable power with the effects on homes, working land and cherished scenery will be the project’s central test.
For Cedar City, Hurricane and communities between them, the debate is not whether growth needs planning, but how carefully that planning is done.
Residents who may be affected can continue to raise property-specific concerns while the route and its potential impacts are under review.
The choices made during this stage could shape both the final corridor and public confidence in the process. |
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Three Peaks to Hurricane is a long stretch of land that a lot of families depend on. Hope Rocky Mountain Power actually listens at these meetings.
Burying the lines near the national park entrance seems worth the extra cost even if it is expensive. Some things matter more than the price tag.
Ranchers along that corridor should get organized now before the route becomes harder to change. Speak up early.
Randy OhlsenGood advice. A rancher alone is easy to brush off but a group with a lawyer and organized comments is a lot harder to ignore. The early stages are when it actually matters.
Early 2030s feels far away but these reviews and permits take forever so I believe it.
The Zion connection is what gets me. Park visitors come from all over the world to see that scenery and big towers near Kolob would not be a good look.
Garrett N.Totally agree. Kolob is already one of the less crowded spots in the Zion area and part of what makes it special is how unspoiled it feels. Big steel towers would change that pretty fast.
Paralleling I-15 seems like the smartest call honestly. At least that land is already disrupted by the freeway.
My well is right in that corridor area. Really hope they work with landowners like they say they will.
tom_b_87Hope it works out for you. Make sure you document your well location in writing and submit it as a formal comment, not just a question at the open house. Keeps it on the record.
The cost argument against underground lines makes sense but it always feels like they use that to shut down the conversation fast.
LindseyTYeah it does feel that way. Like the cost number gets dropped and then everyone moves on. Would be nice if they at least showed a real comparison for a shorter segment near the park, not the whole 54 miles.
Growth in this area is real and power infrastructure has to keep up. Not thrilled about the towers but we need the capacity.
Glad they held open houses at least. Did anyone from Hurricane actually go? Curious what the turnout was like.
Rocky Mountain Power always says the route is not final but somehow it never moves much. Been through this before with another project years ago.
Dale ShumwayThat tracks with what I have heard from neighbors who dealt with the substation expansion a while back. The map shifted a little but not enough to matter for the folks who were most affected.
2033 is a long time to wonder if a transmission line is going through your backyard.
JennaP.Right, and in the meantime you can not really sell, plan anything, or even know what your property is worth. That limbo is its own kind of harm.
Underground would be so much better near Kolob Canyons. That entrance to Zion is gorgeous and towers would ruin it.
rick_southern_utI drove that stretch last spring and yeah, it really is beautiful right there near the Kolob entrance. Hard to imagine towers fitting in without standing out badly.
We have land near Cedar City and this has us worried. Nobody told us anything until we showed up to the open house.
Tammy LeavittSame thing happened to us with a different project a few years back. You basically have to go looking for the information yourself. They do the bare minimum on outreach.
54 miles of towers next to I-15 is going to be quite a sight. Hope they at least keep them as far from the highway as possible.