BernCo Planning Commission approves substation permit in Northeast Heights amid public outcry

Albuquerque residents piled into the Ken Sanchez Commission Chambers on Wednesday, determined to kill a substation project the Bernalillo County Planning Commission was hearing.

But after hours of objection to and hesitation about its proposed location, the commission unanimously approved the special use permit and sector plan amendment for Public Service Company of New Mexico’s North Albuquerque Acres Substation Project.

The project proposes the installation of a new utility structure, estimated to cost around $35 million, in the city’s Northeast Heights area between Ventura and Tramway NE. With the community’s growth over the last few years, PNM is looking to reduce strain on the grid and mitigate possible power outages.

PNM spokesperson Kelly Huber said the utility at the Wednesday meeting sought the approval of the special use permit allowing the buildout of the substation in an otherwise residential or office zone, over which the planning commission has full authority.

However, the sector plan amendment — which Huber described as a “miniature zoning code” — comes on top of a special use permit request as an amendment to the sector plan. Now, Huber said the planning commission will make a recommendation to commissioners for approval.

The project still requires approval from the New Mexico Department of Transportation regarding transmission line permits and installation, Huber said.

Concerns raised during public comment included restricted evacuation routes, degradation of scenic areas and not being given ample notice about the project.

Jim Stewart, president of the Sandia Heights Homeowners Association, spoke in opposition to the project. He asked the commission “to act decisively on behalf of residents we represent.”

“We strongly recommend the commission disapprove PNM’s proposed location for the electrical substation until a route is developed that genuinely addresses the safety and environmental concerns of the Sandia Heights Homeowners Association,” Stewart said.

Ahead of the Wednesday meeting, the planning commission met in September to discuss the project applications. The hearing saw presentations from county planning staff, PNM representatives and extensive public input, and the group called for a 90-day continuance to allow for additional outreach and engagement.

In a November letter sent to the Journal, the High Desert Residential Owners Association requested that the planning commission deny the special use permit. The letter claimed that PNM’s proposed route of transmission lines, located along Tramway Boulevard, poses higher wildfire and environmental threats than another potential path along Eubank Boulevard.

However, PNM Project Manager Camille Jones said the utility has been working to build a substation in the Northeast Albuquerque area for about eight years, simply because the “need exists.”

Jones said a substation is used as a means to deliver power to surrounding neighborhoods through transmission lines. As high voltage power travels through lines and feeds into the substation, the structure converts it into “distribution level” power that can go directly into homes and businesses.

Distribution lines already existing in the area are running over capacity, Jones said, and PNM does not feel comfortable with the infrastructure exceeding an 80% power threshold as it increases the chances of power outages.

“If something occurs, even if it’s weather-related or catastrophic, the length of the outages will continue to increase, as well as the number of outages,” Jones said. “What we need to do is build a substation to alleviate those lines and to be able to provide reliable and redundant power.”

PJ Valencia, president of the North Albuquerque Acres Community Association, said her board has worked with engineering advisers over the past year. Together, they conducted comprehensive research into relevant issues pertaining to their residents, believing that the location of the substation and transmission lines is critical to the area.

“In addition, hosting the substation on one of our (residential or office) zone lots for the benefit of equitable energy for the surrounding neighborhoods — our community should not have to bear the entire burden of the shared electrical infrastructure,” Valencia said. “Therefore, we respectfully urge the county planning commission to recommend approval.”