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Electric substation project moving forward Tuesday Mar 28, 2017 at 5:07 PM Mar 28, 2017 at 5:53 PM Greg Stiles Mail Tribune @GregMTBusiness Pacific Power said Tuesday it remains on course to build a substation near the intersection of Tresham Lane and Highway 234 as part of an $80 million transmission line upgrade. The utility has filed for land-use approval for the substation in Jackson County, a review and decision process the company said will take up to 150 days. Pacific Power plans to add 18 miles of high-capacity transmission line, carrying 230 kilovolts, from an existing Grants Pass substation to the new substation. Construction is scheduled in 2019 with service commencing in late 2020. The utility said it will remain within existing property easements when possible to minimize impacts. Some neighbors in the Tresham Lane area, however, remain opposed to the project. Stuart Lahtinen, who owns property adjacent to the proposed substation, has led a fight to locate the project elsewhere for the past two years.  "We're doing everything we can to help them find a more appropriate location," Lahtinen said. "Our suggestion has been a site near Whetstone Industrial Park (in White City)." Pacific Power spokesman Monte Mendenhall said the utility has looked at 20 alternative sites. "After considering environmental impacts, appropriate zoning and visibility," Mendenhall said, "every one of those brought us back to Tresham. Our goal is to complete this necessary project, which will enhance reliability for more than 70,000 customers, with as little disruption to as few people as possible." Pacific Powers said regional demand has outstripped system reliability since the 1990s, when the present lines were built. The upgrade will reinforce the utility's delivery to Jackson, Josephine and Del Norte counties. Bureau of Land Management, Army Corps of Engineers, State Lands Department, Oregon Environmental Quality Department, along with Jackson and Josephine counties, are involved in the permit approval process. Pacific Power anticipates completing the process by mid-July. The utility said it will begin design and seek easement adjustments on a one-mile section near the city of Rogue River. — Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31.