Gilbert and SRP enter into an intergovernmental agreement

The Gilbert Town Council voted on April 25, 2000, to approve entering into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) providing for SRP's Santan Expansion Project.

The IGA was a major milestone in the development of the Santan Expansion Project, a planned 825-megawatt electric generating facility to be located within SRP's existing 120-acre property near Val Vista Drive and Warner Road.

An IGA sets out terms and conditions of a working arrangement between municipalities like the Town of Gilbert and political subdivisions like SRP. This IGA resolves issues relating to the improvements in the area of the Santan Generating Station.

According to the terms of the IGA, SRP shall carry out, at its expense:

  • Widening Warner Road near the Santan Generating Station property. The project also includes a new median, lighting and landscaping.

  • Extending the horseback and hiking trail near Santan. SRP will design and develop on the eastern edge of its property a trail, complete with crossing lights and trail roads. A bridge over the Eastern Canal into Crossroads Park also will be considered.

  • Widening Val Vista Drive near the entrance of the Santan Generating Station property.

  • Screening the north and east sides of the Santan Generating Station property. This may include the use of vegetation, walls and berms to better integrate the property with the surrounding area.

  • Rerouting the Eastern Canal near Val Vista Drive and Ray Road.

  • Remove a large transmission tower on the Santan Generating Station property.

SRP also will consider a plan for dust control along its canals within Gilbert, and add landscaping, trees and vegetation along transmission facilities and other designated areas.

As part of the IGA, SRP and Gilbert will negotiate in good faith to:

  • Arrange for cooling water supply and a natural gas supply.

  • Allow SRP to use Gilbert's storm drain system or sewer system for the discharge of cooling water from the Santan Expansion Project and for right of way for a wastewater pipeline.

  • Facilitate the receipt of sufficient natural gas supply for the Santan Expansion Project.

Following is the status of SRP's eight obligations to the Town:

  1. Improvements to Warner Road and Val Vista Road: this work is complete.

  2. Screening of the plant: in conjunction with Ten Eyck Landscape Architects, SRP developed construction documents for the agreed onsite design. The CWG reviewed and approved the documents, and the Town review is now complete. A contract was awarded on May 29, 2003 to Evergreen Lawn Sprinklers, Inc.

  3. Trail extension: SRP will add the trail extension on the east side of Santan and incorporate the extension in the onsite design plan.

  4. Rerouting of canal at Ray Road: this canal modification is complete.

  5. Training tower removal: the training tower was removed in the fall of 2000.

  6. Re-vegetation along new RS18 line: SRP restored vegetation along the RS 18 line that was damaged or destroyed by line construction.

  7. Dust control along canals: SRP is in compliance with applicable PM-10 standards along SRP canal banks.

  8. Offsite tree planting: offsite landscaping programs have been developed.