Powerline meeting is Thursday

Bonneville Power Administration, Bureau of Reclamation and contractor representatives from Wilson Construction company will hold a public meeting, Thursday, Feb. 16, from 4-7 p.m. to inform the public on construction details for the new powerlines from Grand Coulee Dam’s Third Power Plant.

Replacing lines that take an underground route now, the 500-kilovolt power line project will take power through overhead lines, past the Visitor Center and up to the switch yards and on to the regional power grid.

Construction activities began last week, BPA said.

The town of Coulee Dam and BPA are still negotiating on impact costs, but BPA produce proof of its authority to override local concerns, according to town Councilmember Karl Hjorten .

BPA and the contractor this week have been hauling equipment to the site.

Organizers of the town hall meeting, scheduled for town hall’s community room, said no formal presentation would be made but a number of officials from the three organizations would be on hand to answer questions and explain the construction process.

The new power lines will replace underground lines that go from the Third Power Plant through a tunnel and end up at the switch yards. Those lines are encased in oil and have bulges on them and considered unsafe for close contact by workers.

The construction is estimated to cost $10 million, and could take up to a year to complete.