Transmission Line Upgrade:
Soldotna Substation to Sterling Substation
What’s happening
Overview
The project will upgrade the transmission line between the Soldotna Substation and the Sterling Substation by replacing the existing line on or near the existing alignment. This project is one of several intended to increase power capacity and reliability between the Bradley Lake Power Plant located at the head of Kachemak Bay outside of Homer and the Quartz Creek Substation near Cooper Landing. Transmission lines continue to Anchorage and serve communities in much of south central.
Benefits
Existing lines were built in the 1960’s and are nearing the end of their design life.
The upgraded system will improve capacity, stability, and provide a dedicated circuit for the Alaska Electric & Energy Cooperative’s (AEEC) system.
Higher capacity lines will allow utilization of the full potential of the Bradley Lake Power Plant, which can generate more power than the current transmission lines are able to support.
Schedule
Crews will begin construction in late 2025 or in 2026. Factors affecting the schedule are easement agreements, material procurement, winter conditions, and coordination with other project phases.
What to Expect
Construction requires outages on the existing line, but there will be minimal disruptions to customers because of the interconnected grid system.
Existing right-of-way fits the project, except for guywire easements at corners. The project team will reach out to affected property owners to arrange for the easements.
The Alaska Electric & Energy Cooperative requests that you remove any private property in the right-of-way as soon as possible to avoid project delays.
The team plans to hold in-person and online public open houses at key design milestones.
Design details
Proposed design is a double circuit 230 kV transmission line on steel poles. Design also includes a new fiber optic communication line.
Features included for possible future construction are a three-phase distribution line and two communication cables.
New structures will be steel single poles for tangent applications and double pole, guyed structures for angle applications.
Existing structure (credit Google Streetview)
New structures proposed (credit Greg Huffman)
Existing structure (credit Google Streetview)
Project documents
Project team
Feel free to contact us with questions.
Christopher Edgar
Project Manager, Alaska Electric & Energy Cooperative/ Homer Electric Association
cedgar@homerelectric.com
Greg Huffman
Engineering Project Manager, Electric Power Systems
ghuffman@espinc.com
Camden Yehle
Public Engagement Lead, Yehle & Associates
camden.yehlealaska@gmail.com
907-346-0506