(A) The Facility Plan: Electric Service Transmission and Subtransmission Facilities Plan (1995-2005) (the “1995 Electric Facilities Plan”), adopted in 1996, is hereby repealed and replaced with the Facility Plan: Electric System Transmission and Generation (2010-2020) (the “2010 Electric Facilities Plan”). In the event of conflicting statements between the two Plans, the newer attached Plan shall govern.
(B) The City Council Adopts the following findings as recommended by the Environmental Planning Commission (EPC):
(1) This request is for a recommendation to the City Council regarding text amendments to the Electric Service Transmission and Subtransmission Facilities Plan (1995-2005) (the “1995 Electric Facilities Plan”), a Rank II facilities plan which describes the electric transmission system serving the City of Albuquerque and unincorporated Bernalillo County.
(2) The proposed text amendments consist of the following: a list of proposed electric facility projects for 2010-2020, a description and clarification of the review process, the addition of generation technologies such as solar and wind, a glossary of technical terms and an appendix of photo examples. Some language, organizational, and graphic improvements are also included.
(3) The proposed text amendments have been incorporated into an updated version of the 1995 Electric Facilities Plan entitled Facility Plan: Electric System Transmission & Generation (2010-2020) (the “2010 Electric Facilities Plan”).
(4) The EPC’s task is to make a recommendation to the City Council regarding the proposed text amendments. The City Council is the City’s Zoning Authority and therefore will make the final decision. The EPC is a recommending body.
(5) The 2010 Electric Facilities Plan is being considered concurrently through Bernalillo County’s development review process (ZSPR-20110001). The County Planning Commission (CPC) held a public hearing on July 6, 2011 and deferred the County request for three months. The date of the subsequent Bernalillo County Commission (BCC) hearing is undetermined as of this writing.
(6) The Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Comprehensive Plan, the City of Albuquerque Integrated Development Ordinance and the 1995 Electric Facilities Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made part of the record for all purposes.
(7) Intent of the City Charter. Establishing and subsequently amending a Rank II Facility Plan to address electric system transmission and generation is an exercise in local self-government (City Charter, Article 1). Standards for transmission line corridors and transmission/substation facilities, which address location, siting, environmental considerations and landscaping, generally express the Council’s desire to ensure the proper use and development of land, and to promote and maintain a humane urban environment (City Charter, Article IX).
(8) Purpose of the Integrated Development Ordinance (Section 14-16-1-3). The proposed text amendments generally further the intent of the Integrated Development Ordinance because they would update and improve a Rank II facility plan, the general purpose of which is to promote and maintain the health, safety, and general welfare of the public.
(9) The request furthers the following Comprehensive Plan Goals regarding Land Use and Environmental Protection & Heritage Conservation, respectively:
a. Developing and Established Urban Area Goal (Section B.5): The proposed text amendments would generally contribute to creating a quality urban environment. Clarification of the process would help ensure adequate review of projects, which must follow design standards to minimize impacts and contribute to a visually pleasing built environment.
b. Developed Landscape Goal (Section C.8): The proposed text amendments would not substantially alter existing design standards. Quality of the developed landscape would be maintained, and may generally improve due to the addition of a process to address generation technologies.
(10) The request furthers the following Community Resource Management Goals of the Comprehensive Plan:
a. Service Provision Goal (Section D.1): The electric system can be managed in part through land use planning. The Electric Facilities Plan already provides a mechanism to link facilities planning to land use planning goals and policies. The proposed text amendments strengthen this mechanism by addressing generation technologies and making the approval process more transparent.
b. Energy Management (Section D.3): The proposed text amendments would contribute to maintaining an adequate supply of electric energy; projects serve to expand and maintain the electric transmission and generation system.
c. Economic Development (Section D.6): The proposed text amendments would add an economic development section. Electric facilities projects generally support economic development efforts. The existing design and location standards will continue to help ensure that electric projects are balanced with visual, ecological, and land use considerations, which promote overarching environmental and social goals.
(11) The request furthers the following applicable Comprehensive Plan policies:
a. Policy II.C.4a, noise considerations/planning process. The proposed text amendments would update the Electric Facilities Plan with respect to noise. Noise levels shall not exceed National Electrical Manufacturers Association guidelines. This regulation, and the fact that electric facility location is planned according to standards, helps prevent land use/noise conflicts.
b. Policy II.C.8c, incidental structures/visual intrusion. The existing design standards serve to minimize adverse visual effects. The proposed text amendments would not substantially alter the design standards; minimization of visual intrusion would continue. The siting study required for generation facilities would address visual considerations.
c. Policy II.D. 3c, alternative/renewable energy sources. The Electric Facilities Plan is a mechanism for land use planning. Addressing alternative generation technologies, such as solar and wind, is a key reason for updating the Plan. The proposed text amendments are a step toward maximizing the potential for efficient use of alternative and renewable energy sources.
(12) The revision process began in January 2010 with the need to update the project list and address generation technologies. Staff from the City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, and the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) collaborated. A Technical Team was formed; members reviewed a draft version of the Plan and provided comments.
(13) The proposed 2010 Electric Facilities Plan features two significant improvements in addition to the standard updating of the Electric Projects list: clarification of the review and approval process and incorporation of generation technologies such as solar and wind.
(14) The proposed text amendments warrant revision in places to improve clarity and remedy minor errors. The proposed conditions of approval are intended to achieve this.
(15) The proposed text amendments were announced in the Albuquerque Journal, the Neighborhood News, and on the Planning Department’s web page. The Office of Neighborhood Coordination (ONC) sent email notification on June 9, 2011 to neighborhood representatives. As of this writing, Staff has received a few informational inquiries and phone calls. There is no known opposition to the request.
(C) Conditions of Approval. As recommended by the Environmental Planning Commission (EPC), the City Council adopts the Conditions of Approval. These conditions provide further clarification, reorganize some text, make minor editorial revisions, and correct referencing.
(R-2012-023, approved 2-22-12; Res. 2017-102, approved 11-13-17)
Cross-reference:
Facility Plan: Electric Service Transmission and Sub-transmission Facilities (1995-2005), § 4-3-1, repealed.