Power station rejected

Sierra Pacific's desire for a substation in the Mark Twain area has been rejected again, despite threats from the state Public Utility Commission that further costs could be passed on to Storey County ratepayers.

At the meeting, Storey County Manager Pat Whitten read an e-mail from Anne Marie Cuno, a representative of the PUC, which he said accurately reflected what he was told at a pre-hearing meeting with the state PUC.

He said the e-mail indicated that any incremental costs the utility faced because of conditions imposed by a county would be borne by the ratepayers in that county.

He said that meant if Sierra Pacific Power Company prevailed in their effort, any additional costs incurred, such as a requirement to put lines underground or move the location of the proposed substation, or any other costs associated with county orders, would be billed to the residents of the county that set the requirements.

In this case, the e-mail said staff would recommend costs be borne by the citizens of the county requiring the added measures.

Linda Bissett, public policy executive director for Sierra Pacific, told the commissioners that, as stated in a previous letter, company officials feel they had not followed a very good process in working with the public, and asked that the commissioners send the request back to the planning commission for another hearing rather than go forward.

Despite her plea and the PUC comments, the commissioners voted 2-0 to approve the planning commission's recommendation to deny the special use permit. Voting in favor were Greg "Bum" Hess and John Flanagan. Commissioner Bob Kershaw was absent.

"We have five power plants in the county and one of the largest landfills in the nation," said Hess. "Storey County has been a good regional neighbor."

He acknowledged that the county and the utility have had good relations in the past, but said he didn't think this location, in the midst of a residential area, was a good place to put the substation.

More than 100 residents of the Mark Twain area were on hand, and most of those residents who rose to speak asked the commission to uphold the planning commission's recommendation of denial. Only two suggested sending the issue back to the planning commission.

County Planning and Building Administrator Dean Haymore said at the meeting that representatives of Sierra Pacific and the county will scout possible alternative locations, but Bill Bennett of Sierra Pacific said any plans will have to wait until company leaders had a chance to discuss the rejection.

"We're obviously disappointed, but we'll have to go back and discuss what our moves will be," he said.

Under Storey County ordinance, Sierra Pacific will have to wait a year before filing another application, unless they get an exception from the commissioners.