The Holbrook City Council met last week, and heard an easement request for a transmission line on city-owned land from Clenera LLC: Snowflake Solar LLC, a privately-held renewable energy company. Jared McKee, a representative with the company, explained to the council that they manage 1800 megawatts of projects or 15,000 acres of land across the country covered in solar panels and that they contract with utility companies for their services. It was noted the company both purchases and leases land as part of their endeavors.
McKee noted that the project would bring approximately 300 employees to the community over a period of two to three years working on the project in phases, with approximately 10 people actually employed for operations once complete. He stated that included in that number will be local labor hires. There will be 12 miles of land used for the project north of Holbrook, with 2.13 miles across city-owned property. The proposed cost for the easement would be approximately $156,000 for a 35-year time period, with the project to involve eight to 10 500kv transmission lines between the Petroglyph Park and the Hidden Cove Golf Course, with the easement to be 200 feet wide at the center.
Councilman Tim Dixon expressed concerns regarding the visibility of the poles in that area and McKee stated that the company would work to ensure that is addressed to be as unintrusive as possible. Councilman Adam Marsh stated his concerns were regarding the natural and cultural resources that may be in the area. “We go through and do cultural studies,” McKee reassured. “We will go through and do all those studies because it’s required not only by the federal pieces but also by our investors.”
McKee noted that they still need to have a commercial agreement with the utility and finish their permitting for the project. If the council approved the easement, there would be a three-year option and if not exercised the option would terminate, with the possibility of four extensions.
The council made the decision to have McKee work with City Manager Ted Soltis on a definitive proposal and to have that brought back to the council for review.
Police Chief Nathan Christensen informed the council of the heroic effort of Officer Fernando Alvarado that took place earlier in the month. According to Christensen Alvarado responded to a report of an unresponsive 3-week-old baby and that all efforts to resuscitate the child by the parents were unsuccessful. “When Officer Alvarado arrived, he was given a lifeless child. He immediately began life saving efforts after checking for signs of life he administered four blows to the child’s back, the final blow dislodging whatever was blocking the child’s airway,” stated Christensen.
For his efforts Alvarado was presented the Lifesaving Award, which is a medal provided by the police department to be worn on his Class A uniform. The mother Sierra Anaya also spoke, saying “it was the scariest moment of my life.” She expressed her gratitude to Alvarado and for having a police force in the community.
