DAVIS COUNTY — As nationwide demand for electricity and new generating resources grows, Rocky Mountain Power, which services the Davis County area, is leading the way with new transmission line infrastructure projects.

Construction crews have started building a 135-mile high-voltage transmission line from a new substation in Idaho, to an existing substation near the Salt Lake City International Airport. Parts of the project are also going through Davis County.

“We are proud to be able to make this important investment in the future for our customers and communities,” said Richard Walje, president of Rocky Mountain Power, a division of PacifiCorp. “In recent years there has been considerable discussion about the nation’s aging infrastructure and the need to invest.

“Our commitment to deliver these facilities is a clear demonstration of the vision, leadership and financial capability of our company and its owners. This project is critical to provide reliable and economical electric service to our customers.”

“Our commitment to the investments necessary to meet the electric needs of our customers was made when we purchased the company in 2006. This commitment includes the new wind and natural gas generating plants the company has brought online, together with the increased transmission and distribution capacity now under construction, ” said Greg Abel, CEO of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, the parent company of PacifiCorp.

The new transmission line is the first segment in PacifiCorp’s Energy Gateway transmission expansion. Work began at the end-points in Salt Lake City and Idaho in February and will be in-service by 2010. Once completed, PacifiCorp’s Energy Gateway transmission expansion will help to ensure its two divisions, Rocky Mountain Power and Pacific Power, can serve the long-term electric needs of their customers with a diverse portfolio of generating resources.

The early stages of construction include building access roads and excavation for the concrete foundations to support the transmission structures.

The construction contract was awarded in October 2008 to Populus-Terminal Transmission Partners, A.J.V., a partnership of Black and Veatch Construction Inc., Henkels and McCoy, Inc. and Kiewit Western Co. The joint venture, headquartered near Ogden, Utah, is providing engineering, procurement and construction services.