Lent, Xcel work together towards substation growth

Xcel Energy has gotten a preliminary okay amending a land use permit to expand the Lent Township substation, on County Road 14. Xcel plans on extending the facility footprint using three acres it owns to the south of the developed substation. (The entire Xcel property is 117 acres.) The special township permit first acquired by then-Northern States Power, is dated 1977.

Xcel will need to cut some trees and do sitework (earthwork, fencing) impacting about 1.6 acres to make way for adding a transformer and reactor banks. Xcel engineers said the banks utilize “air core” technology and don’t use any chemicals. The additional transformer is backup for reliability, Xcel representatives told the township planning commission last week. It will be just like the oil-fueled transformer on site, including a containment structure (concrete tray) installed beneath to capture any spills. Lent Township officials noted there needs to be an updated emergency response plan filed with the township, which Xcel representatives agreed to provide as a pre-requisite for the amendment to the land use permit. There will be 345 kV and 115 kV input and output involved (see graphic.)

Lent Township planning commission members requested an electromagnetic field analysis be submitted by Xcel as part of the township okay. The planning commission members also said they want a nuisance noise analysis done. Xcel’s Colette Jurek said she will arrange for a decibel study with a neighbor to the site who offered to work with Xcel. (Jurek can be reached at 651-779-3105 or colette.c. [email protected] if you have similar requests related to the substation.) The township would also like lighting of the substation facility toned-down a bit. Neighbor Mark Koran said at the commission meeting last week that the lights are on 24-7 and he questioned if it’s absolutely necessary. Years ago the massive facility would be unlit and “disappear.” Koran said the substation would only be lit if work crews were doing maintenance at night--but now the site is illuminated all the time. Jurek will report back on Xcel’s lighting policy too.

The permit amendment approval is also tied to Xcel reviewing its substation landscaping policy. Township officials want to see where extra vegetation is possible, buffering visibility at the township site. An Xcel engineer got a big laugh when he said squirrels can be a problem and Xcel tries to keep habitat growth a distance from its equipment. Township officials agreed to take formal action on the amended permit at the May meeting, once all the township pre-requisites have been addressed or have been set in motion. Xcel plans to start the expansion work mid to late summer, with completion of projects in 2015.