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Big Bay / CR 550 Project Update

Alger Delta Cooperative Electric Association continues to make progress on its upgrade of electrical facilities along County Road 550. During the week of July 28, crews began dropping new poles along the twenty-two mile stretch in preparation for framing and installation, and construction began on the new substation located on the same property as the existing substation in North Marquette.

According to Alger Delta General Manager, Tom Harrell, these projects are designated as phases two and three of a 5-phase plan that includes timely improvements to an outdated, problematic system and service to Kennecott Minerals’ planned nickel mine in Northwest Marquette County.

Phase one began in May of this year with line clearance tree trimming on the main line along CR 550. This phase of the project is just weeks from completion, said Harrell. Harrell stated that Alger Delta will also be working on lateral lines, (those which tap off of the main line).

Phase two includes the building of a new substation which will have four times the capacity of the existing facilities and will sustain power needs for the area well into the future. The new substation will take power from the grid, which is operated by American Transmission Company (ATC). Alger Delta will take power at 138,000 volts, or 138 KV, and step it down to 24,900 volts, or 24.9 KV, for distribution to cooperative members.

Phase three of the project is the rebuilding of the existing power line along CR 550 from the substation to a location just south of Big Bay. Completion of all work on CR 550 is expected by the end of November barring schedule changes due to weather and other factors, said Harrell.

Phases four and five are related to providing electric service to the Kennecott Minerals mining company. They include tree removal and trimming along County Roads 510 and AAA, (phase four), and installing a new power line from the intersection of County Roads 550 and 510 to Kennecott Minerals, (phase 5).

Alger Delta is monitoring the contested case hearings between Kennecott Minerals and mining opponents. “We have plenty of work to do right now…work that benefits every Alger Delta member, no matter where they live on our system. When the contested case hearings are over, we’ll evaluate those decisions and determine the best way to move forward,” Harrell said.