Yukon Electrical Co. Ltd. is proposing to build a new transmission line from the Kulan industrial park to service the proposed Whistlebend subdivision on the Porter Creek lower bench.

The company has submitted an application for an environmental screening, based on two options.

Both involve clearing rights-of-way through areas currently zoned environmental protection.

The timing of the construction is essentially dependent on the City of Whitehorse and its plans to move ahead with the first phase of the 2,000-lot development, Yukon Electrical spokesman Jay Massie said Monday.

"Basically, we are getting our permitting in place so we are ready to go," he said in an interview.

He said the new transmission line has to tie into the Kulan substation, as the Mountainview Drive substation at the end of 12th Avenue is already maxed out.

Maps submitted with the application show one option - option A - would bring the line between the MacDonald Road industrial area and Willow Crescent and Beech Street, and onward into the lower bench.

Option A involves a 3.4-kilometre right-of-way at an estimated cost of $320,000, and would cross areas currently zoned greenbelt and environmental protection.

Option B involves 4.1-kilometres of new line at an estimated cost of $390,000, including an 850 metre stretch between Kulan and Crestview.

The line would run off the Alaska Highway right-of-way north of the industrial area and down into the lower bench, through areas zoned environmental protection.

Both options are shown as ending at the intersection of the Range Road, and the road leading into the equestrian show grounds.

Massie said exactly where the line will end will largely be dependent on the city's final subdivision plan and its site for the new substation.

"We want to get the 35-KV line into the area; where it goes from there is up to the city."

The subdivision will be fed by underground power, he said.

Technically speaking, Massie said, it's possible to put the main transmission line underground from Kulan to the lower bench, though going underground would be significantly more expensive.

The cost will take the form of a development cost attached to the subdivision just like roads and sidewalks, and will be passed on to the purchasers of lots, Massie pointed out.

He said Yukon Electrical does not have a preference of which option is selected, though the two routes are the best ones the company has come up with.

Either way, establishing the right-of-way involves the removal of all trees within a 15-metre corridor, and any nearby trees that may pose a threat to the line because of their age or general instability, Massie said.

His company is hoping to be in a position to brush the preferred route by this fall, before snow depth becomes an issue.

City council has stated it wants the first Whistlebend lots available in 2011.

Council is expected to approve the final subdivision plan early in the New Year.

Whistlebend is anticipated to meet the city's urban housing demand for the next 20 years.

Documents filed with the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board suggest the right-of-way could open up the areas to more foot traffic, from people walking their dogs to activity by off-road-vehicles.

But because of the proximity to populated neighbourhoods, the easement is not likely to have much impact on large mammals, Yukon Electrical points out.

It also notes the line will always be at least 650 metres away from the Yukon River.