The $18 million power line extension will terminate at a switchyard that will connect to Hudbay’s planned Copper World mine
The five-member Arizona Corporation Commission approved the Tucson Electric Power Company’s application for the $18 million Santa Rita Connection on Dec. 8 by a 4-0 vote with one commissioner absent.
The decision confirms that the 138 kV power line extension will terminate at a switchyard that will be paid for by Hudbay Minerals. The switchyard will connect to the Toronto-based company’s Copper World mine through a separate 138 kV power line approved in 2012.
TEP, the town of Sahuarita’s staff and Mayor Tom Murphy had stated that the Santa Rita Connection power line had nothing to do with Copper World and took steps to prevent the public from knowing the truth about a primary purpose of the project.
Save the Scenic Santa Ritas discovered one email in more than 1,000 pages of TEP’s application and exhibits that revealed Copper World would be a direct beneficiary of the project.
“Once again, the public gets shafted on a power line project where there should have been full disclosure about Hudbay’s involvement and an independent analysis of how much of the cost of the power line should have been borne by the company,” Save the Scenic Santa Ritas Executive Director John Dougherty said. “Instead, ratepayers will bear the full cost of the Santa Rita Connection.”
The Santa Rita Connection will extend from TEP’s Sonoran Substation northeast of Sahuarita and terminate at the Santa Rita Substation which will also include Hudbay’s Toro Switchyard that was planned to be built in a separate location. TEP has not disclosed how much Hudbay will pay for having the switchyard collocated with the substation.
Murphy, along with Sahuarita Town Manager Shane Dille, took action to deflect public attention from Hudbay’s role in the project.
Dille refused to release town records related to communications between his staff and TEP regarding the power line. He also didn’t disclose Hudbay’s involvement in the project in staff reports to the town council and the public.
His actions occurred during a period when his contract was up for review by the council. Hudbay publicly praised Dille for his work on Copper World and his understanding of the project and “transparency” prior to Dille receiving a substantial raise.
Murphy, who is a vocal supporter of mining and publicly endorsed Copper World earlier this year in a full-page advertisement paid for by Hudbay, made a statement during the Jan. 26 council meeting that deflected attention from Hudbay.
“Just, because I know there’s some concerns, this really is just connected to having future capacity and growth,” Murphy said before following with a question. “This is not connected to Hudbay in any way, is it?”
Murphy’s statement-question was directed to a TEP representative who had just finished a presentation on the purpose of the Santa Rita Connection and never mentioned that Hudbay’s switchyard would be collocated with TEP’s substation.
“No, it is not,” Christopher Ortiz y Pino, TEP’s Project Manager for Siting, Outreach and Engagement, stated.
The exchange left the public attending the meeting incorrectly believing that the Santa Rita Connection had nothing to do with Copper World.
For more information go to: https://scenicsantaritas.org/will-ratepayers-subsidize-copper-worlds-electric-power/
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