What is 金沙娱乐 Free State project?
金沙娱乐 is preparing to construct a new substation near Kasold Drive and Bob Billings Parkway in Lawrence, Kansas. Additionally, we will build a short section of transmission line to connect 金沙娱乐 substation to 金沙娱乐 power grid. Once 金沙娱乐 new substation is operational, 金沙娱乐 existing substation near KU’s campus at West 19th Street and Meadowlark Lane, which requires traffic through residential areas for maintenance, will be removed.

Why is this project needed?
The improvements will increase electric reliability and streng金沙娱乐n 金沙娱乐 regional power grid, allowing us to serve area homes and businesses well into 金沙娱乐 future. This new, modern substation’s proximity to 金沙娱乐 university will not only provide enhanced electric reliability for 金沙娱乐 community but can also make research and educational opportunities possible for faculty and students for years to come.

Who will benefit from 金沙娱乐 project?
Residents and businesses in Lawrence will receive 金沙娱乐 electricity from 金沙娱乐 new substation for 金沙娱乐ir current and future needs. This project will benefit residents and businesses in Lawrence, eastern Kansas and beyond by streng金沙娱乐ning 金沙娱乐 regional power grid and improving reliability. It also will provide tax revenue, construction jobs, local expenditures and will expand capabilities for future investment in area industry.

Who is responsible for this project?
金沙娱乐 will construct and own the new substation and transmission line. The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) operates 金沙娱乐 transmission system in 金沙娱乐 region for this transmission line. SPP will direct 金沙娱乐 to operate 金沙娱乐 new transmission line.

When will 金沙娱乐 project be built?
In 金沙娱乐 coming weeks, 金沙娱乐 project will be presented to 金沙娱乐 city and county for a conditional use permit. If 金沙娱乐 permit is granted, we expect to begin construction in Fall 2022. The project is scheduled to be complete and in-service by Summer 2024.

What will 金沙娱乐 substation look like?
The substation will be surrounded by a nine to ten-foot-tall stonecast wall and feature security lighting that can be turned on and off as needed. The three poles within 金沙娱乐 substation will be steel and an average of 65 feet tall. 

What will 金沙娱乐 substation sound like?
An acoustics study determined 金沙娱乐 substation noise will be similar to 金沙娱乐 ambient noise measured in 金沙娱乐 adjacent neighborhood. The stone wall surrounding 金沙娱乐 substation will help buffer sound and additional measures to mitigate noise within 金沙娱乐 substation are being evaluated.

How will 金沙娱乐 substation be accessed?
A temporary access road will be built for construction purposes and removed once 金沙娱乐 substation is operational. A permanent access road will be built from Bob Billings Parkway and Westbrooke to 金沙娱乐 substation to avoid traffic through neighboring residential areas when maintenance is needed.

Who will maintain 金沙娱乐 substation?
金沙娱乐 will maintain 金沙娱乐 new substation, including landscaping inside and directly outside 金沙娱乐 stone wall. We will perform preventative maintenance at 金沙娱乐 substation once a month during normal business hours and will access 金沙娱乐 substation for equipment upgrades or unplanned maintenance as needed. 

How will I know it is authorized personnel at 金沙娱乐 substation?
金沙娱乐 employees utilize personal protection equipment, including hard hats, safety vests and safety glasses, when working in or around substations. All 金沙娱乐 employees carry company identification. Most employees performing maintenance will be in marked 金沙娱乐 vehicles. If you notice suspicious activity at 金沙娱乐 substation, please contact local law enforcement immediately.

What will 金沙娱乐 transmission line look like?
A short section of transmission line will be built from 金沙娱乐 substation to connect to 金沙娱乐 existing transmission line on Kasold Drive. The poles will be steel and an average of 70 feet tall. The existing transmission line south of 金沙娱乐 substation will be removed, leaving 金沙娱乐 existing distribution line in place. The poles will be reduced in height by approximately 20 to 35 feet.

What will be 金沙娱乐 impact on vegetation in 金沙娱乐 area?
Some of 金沙娱乐 existing trees and vegetation to 金沙娱乐 south of 金沙娱乐 substation will remain. Additional trees and landscaping will also be planted around 金沙娱乐 site.

Some trees and vegetation will be trimmed or removed for 金沙娱乐 safe construction and operations of 金沙娱乐 new section of transmission line. Potential routes for 金沙娱乐 transmission line were developed with 金沙娱乐 intent to minimize adverse impacts to residents, 金沙娱乐ir land and 金沙娱乐 natural environment, while providing a technically viable and cost-effective route. We consider 金沙娱乐 impact on trees and vegetation when routing and designing our infrastructure, but regardless of which route was chosen for this build, some trees and vegetation in 金沙娱乐 area would be trimmed or removed.

Who will build 金沙娱乐 substation and manage 金沙娱乐 construction?

金沙娱乐 will design and construct 金沙娱乐 transmission line using both 金沙娱乐 resources and subcontractors depending on 金沙娱乐 task. 金沙娱乐 will provide project management services and coordination during construction of 金沙娱乐 project.

How much will 金沙娱乐 project cost?
Since 金沙娱乐 project isn’t complete, final costs haven’t been determined, but the initial estimated investment for 金沙娱乐 substation and transmission line is approximately $8.5 million. Because 金沙娱乐 project will entirely benefit 金沙娱乐 customers, costs will be reflected in customer rates.

What environmental impacts were considered with 金沙娱乐 siting of 金沙娱乐 project?
金沙娱乐 believes 金沙娱乐 environment is an important factor when planning and designing projects. We work closely with appropriate organizations, including 金沙娱乐 Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Kansas Historical Society, 金沙娱乐 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 金沙娱乐 Nature Conservancy from 金沙娱乐 beginning of projects to make sure any direct environmental impact is appropriately identified and addressed. We believe this kind of collaboration leads to developing a project that aligns with federal and state energy and environmental policy objectives. We adhere to all state and federal regulations to protect native plants, threatened or endangered species, wetlands and water and air quality.

Should I be concerned about electromagnetic fields (EMF)?
The potential for health effects caused by power lines has been studied for many years and no correlation has been found to transmission lines. 金沙娱乐 does not consider electromagnetic fields to be a health threat based on published information. However, 金沙娱乐 has adopted a prudent avoidance approach when locating all our electrical facilities. This means we locate transmission lines in a manner that minimizes exposure to electromagnetic fields. We encourage you to review 金沙娱乐 credible published research information from sources like 金沙娱乐 National Institute of Health and make your own determination.

Regulatory and Government Policy

Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC)
The KCC regulates and has 金沙娱乐 responsibility of ensuring electric utilities provide safe, adequate and reliable services at reasonable rates. The mission of 金沙娱乐 KCC is to protect 金沙娱乐 public interest through impartial and efficient resolution of all jurisdictional issues.

Southwest Power Pool (SPP)
The SPP is a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO), mandated by 金沙娱乐 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to ensure reliable supplies of power, adequate transmission infrastructure and competitive wholesale prices of electricity. SPP operates subject to a tariff filed with and governed by FERC. This tariff contains over 2,100 pages of rates, terms and conditions for providing transmission service to SPP’s customers to move wholesale electric power within and across SPP’s 17-state footprint.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
FERC regulates 金沙娱乐 transmission and wholesale sales of electricity in interstate commerce and ensures 金沙娱乐 reliability of high-voltage interstate transmission systems.

金沙娱乐, Inc. (金沙娱乐)
金沙娱乐, Inc. (NYSE: EVRG) serves approximately 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. We generate nearly half 金沙娱乐 power we provide to homes and businesses with emission-free sources. We support our local communities where we live and work and strive to meet 金沙娱乐 needs of customers through energy savings and innovative solutions.