Maltby to Paradise 115 kV Transmission Line
A new transmission line is essential for delivering power to the new Paradise Substation. The substation is being constructed to relieve heavily loaded circuits that currently extend to the edge of our service territory where there are limited options for alternate power sources. As a result, the existing infrastructure poses challenges to reliability and operational flexibility. The new substation, enabled by this transmission line, will significantly improve service conditions in the region. Please see the map of proposed routes as well as an FAQ below.
Thank you to all who attended the Open House
Where: Hidden River Middle School, 9224 Paradise Lake Rd, Snohomish, WA 98296
When: Thursday, July 31, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
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Transmission Line Route Alternatives
Project benefits:
- Increased capacity to serve existing and future demand
- Enhanced system reliability and operational flexibility
- Improved power quality for customers in the area
- Fewer and shorter power outages
- Stronger support for local economic growth and development
- More stable and resilient service for homes and businesses
Proposed schedule:
- 2025 Route Selection
- 2026 Design/Permitting/Material Procurement
- 2027 Easement Acquisition
- 2028 Construction
FAQs
What will the new line look like?
The new transmission line and structures will be similar in design and height to the PUD’s existing 115-kV structures. (See sample photo). Poles would be between 75 and 95 feet tall.
Will the lines be built in the right-of-way?
Typically, poles are placed in an easement that we would negotiate with the property owner, but sometimes the poles are placed in the right-of-way.
When will a decision be made on the preferred route?
Public comments on the proposed routes for the Maltby-Paradise transmission line can be submitted online or by mail through Friday, August 15. We anticipate that it will take approximately a month to analyze comments and make a decision regarding the final route option. We will communicate with the community once the decision has been made. We sincerely appreciate all the comments that have been shared thus far.
I’m concerned about EMF. Can you explain what it is and its impact on health?
Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) are invisible lines of force that surround any electrical device. Electric fields are created by differences in voltage while magnetic fields are created by electric currents. Higher voltages and/or greater currents will result in a stronger EMF. The strength of EMF decreases dramatically with increasing distance from the source. At the edge of a standard powerline right-of-way, the EMF has already decreased by more than 90 percent compared to what a lineman experiences while working on a line.
Based on a recent in-depth review of scientific literature, the World Health Organization concluded that current evidence does not confirm the existence of any health consequences from exposure to low-level EMF. Low-level EMF is defined as low frequency non-ionizing radiation, typically below 300 Hz. Power lines fall within the extremely low frequency range at just 60 Hz. The EMF from power lines is well below radio, mobile phones, and microwaves.