Agenda - Planning Commission - 03/05/2015

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Basis for need Connexus Energy completed a communications study in 2014 to identify solutions for areas of need: 1. Resolve issues with current communications systems 2. Develop a forward-looking strategy to enable and support forthcoming applications that require additional communications capability. The company's existing tower located in Anoka just off Trunk Highway 10 was determined to be structurally deficient per current codes in a recent analysis. As such, no additional attachments can be added. Existing systems include the company's land mobile radio system (voice communication to trucks and hand held radios), and control and monitoring communications to customer owned Distributed Generation (DG). Looking forward, Connexus Energy plans to add communication infrastructure for "smart grid" applications, including: • AMI - Automated Metering Infrastructure. • DA — (Distribution Automation) communications to devices on the electric grid to enhance grid efficiency and reliability. • SCADA — Communications for monitoring and control of substations. • Demand Response — enables customers to control electrical load to reduce demand and energy consumption during peak periods of use. The proposed communications tower is an integral element of the overall plan. The study indicates the tower is ideally located on Connexus Energy property. Location and Height A tower height of 199 feet (just under 200') above ground level is the ideal height based on the following: • The tower does not need to be painted (red and white) or tamped for heights under 200 feet above ground level per FCC requirements. • Propagation analysis indicates that communications signal performance at 200' at the Ramsey location is comparable to that of the existing 300' height in Anoka. Propagation performance degrades below 200' towards 100'. "Holes" in coverage due to degradation of signal path creates additional safety risk when crews need voice communication working on power lines, and additional reliability risk if signal is lost when performing line switching operations. • The 200' height allows for signal propagation over the Ramsey landfill (^'160') for applications where direct line of site communications is needed. Proposed placement of the structure is to the "back" of the Connexus building, near the generator enclosure and service transformers. Exhibit 2 illustrates the location of the tower on the property with approximate dimensions from the tower base to surrounding property lines. Exhibit 3 illustrates approximate placement in the general back area of the property, with approximate distances from the tower base to the building, the Eastern property edge bordering Cottonwood Park, and to the closet point of the public trail within the park. These exhibits were extracted from the Anoka County GIS base map with the aerial view included.