SACO — A proposed power line project has been thwarted by the city ordinance.

Central Maine Power Company is proposing the construction of a 345 kV transmission line, which would run from the Scarborough town line south to the Saco River, passing through the Louden Road substation.

The proposed project would have high-voltage power lines running within 200 feet of about 10 residences, according to data from the Planning Board.

Under city ordinance, however, high-voltage lines within 200 feet of any residence, school building or playground, public recreation field, or place of employment must be placed underground.

The proposed project in Saco spans about six and three-quarter miles, and runs in a 300-foot-wide corridor that is already in existence.

The project would add an additional line roughly in the center of the corridor, and the proposed poles, at 75 feet, would not be higher than the tallest existing poles in the corridor, Doug Ide of TRC Engineers, representing CMP at Tuesday’s planning board meeting. The corridor has already been kept clear of trees, and the proposal needs “very little” tree clearing, he said.

Craig Casey of Wedgewood Drive, part of the area where the power lines would pass, said there are many families in his neighborhood, and asked if there had been any studies done regarding health concerns related to the proposed lines.

He also said there had been a power upgrade in the past few years.

“Why is there another upgrade going in there?” he asked.

Ide said the project is part of the Maine Power Reliability project, which will run through about 80 municipalities.

The project is a result of a study done to address future needs, and will make the lines more robust to prevent any future catastrophes, he said.

According to Ide, if people were concerned about electromagnetic levels, the proposed lines would decrease the levels.

However, he said, there are no specific health problems caused by electromagnetic fields.

“Through decades of studies, no one has been able to demonstrate a specific cause and effect relationship between magnetic fields and health effects,” said Ide.

Planning Board member Sandra Guay said she didn’t think the Planning Board had any other option than to deny CMP’s request for a conditional use permit.

“The ordinance has tied the Planning Board’s hands,” said Planning Board member Donald Girouard.

This is the second CMP project this year that has been thwarted by Saco’s ordinance, which prevents high-voltage lines near schools, residences and other areas.

Earlier this year, the Saco Bay project, which would have lines running alongside Saco Middle School and the Chelsea Circle, Jenkins Road and Rotary Drive neighborhoods, was rejected by the Planning Board for the same reason.

In the case of the Saco Bay project, CMP has applied for a waiver from the Public Utilities Commission to allow it to install the high-voltage power lines, said CMP Spokesman John Carroll.

The PUC has the right to override local ordinances.

The PUC has not come to any decision yet regarding the Saco Bay project, but has agreed to pursue CMP’s application.

Carroll said the company will likely request a waiver from the PUC for this project as well.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.