By Chris Coppola| The Arizona Republic
Gila River Indian Community officials rejected construction of a major power line across tribal land because terms of the proposed lease with Salt River Project was too long, a tribal spokesman confirmed.
SRP officials told The Republic it is continuing to pursue an agreement with the tribal community that would place most of the proposed 230-kilovolt line on reservation land, allowing it to bypass more populated areas in Chandler and near Sun Lakes. A portion of that proposed route still would need to be built in Chandler to connect with an existing substation, a plan that has stirred opposition from a residents’ group that is calling for the line to be buried.
