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Councilmember Look introduced the following resolution and moved for its adoption: RESOLUTION #10 -08 -161 RESOLUTION SUPPORTING GREAT RIVER ENERGY'S TWO TRANSMISSION PROJECTS TO ENSURE CONTINUED RELIABLE ELECTRIC SERVICES IN THE CITY OF RAMSEY AND ENCOURAGING THE USE OF EXISTING TRANSMISSION LINE CORRIDORS FOR THE SECOND PROJECT WHEREAS, Connexus Energy provides the City of Ramsey with its retail electric services and Great River Energy is the wholesale electricity provider to Connexus Energy; and WHEREAS, Ramsey receives bulk electrical services via Great River Energy's 69 kilovolt (kV) transmission system; and WHEREAS, Economic and Population growth in Ramsey and other surrounding communities has caused the transmission system to approach its electrical capacity such that load forecasting suggests the line could be overloaded for short periods of time in the summer of 2011; and WHEREAS, Ramsey desires to attract additional business, industry and residents that will require reliable electrical services and the Comprehensive Plan forecasts additional growth by 2030; and WHEREAS, Additional growth will put the existing 69 kV system at greater risk of failure; and WHEREAS, GRE has proposed two transmission line projects to avoid overloading the 69 kV system; and WHEREAS, Project I consists of creating a 115 kV interconnection between the Anoka Enterprise Park Substation and the Coon Rapids Crooked Lake Substation that includes a new 115 kV transmission line that may be located in the southeastern area of Ramsey; and WHEREAS, Project II consists of adding a 115 kV interconnection between Elk River and the Anoka Enterprise Park substation that will involve a route that crosses through Ramsey; and WHEREAS, Project II planning is preliminary and Great River Energy has not defined or established a transmission line route the City would express a preference for a route that will minimize the negative impact to the COR area because of the time and money the City has spent developing this area. The COR is defined as the mixed use downtown development generally lying between Ramsey Blvd. and Armstrong Blvd. in the vicinity of US Highway 10 and South of 147th; and WHEREAS, GRE must obtain permits for Projects I and II; and WHEREAS, Project I can be permitted either through Ramsey's Conditional Use Permit process or a State process by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission; and WHEREAS, Project II is required to be permitted through a State process because the length of the transmission line will most likely exceed ten miles; and WHEREAS, Ramsey will have the opportunity to participate and comment on Project II through the State permitting process; and