CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: January 25, 2017
PREPARED BY: Edith Ramirez/Economic Development Director/Community Development
APPROVED BY: City Manager
Title
SOUTH COUNTY POWER CONNECT PROJECT UPDATE
END
RECOMMENDATION(S)
RECOMMENDATION
1. Receive the update on the Pacific Gas and Electric South County Power Connect Project
2. Provide input to PG&E
BODY
COUNCIL PRIORITIES, GOALS & STRATEGIES:
Ongoing Priorities
Preserving and cultivating public trust
2016 Focus Areas
Planning Our Community
Developing Our Community
Enhancing Our Services
REPORT NARRATIVE:
The South County Power Connect project is a project led by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to increase capacity and reliability of the electric system in South County, specifically in Gilroy, San Martin, and Morgan Hill. The project consists of construction of a new substation, two transmission lines, and upgrades to existing transmission lines in the area.
PG&E is in the process of evaluating substation and transmission line options. Currently, eight substation sites have been identified in South County. Sites located in or near Morgan Hill include the existing PG&E substation site on Main Avenue and two sites on Edmundson Avenue (see Exhibit A).
PG&E plans to further refine the sites by Spring 2017 and submit a proposed site and routes with alternatives to the California Public Utilities Commission (the entity that has ultimate jurisdiction over the final preferred site) in mid-2017. If approved, the project is expected to be operational by 2021. A letter from PG&E is attached (Exhibit B) with more information on the project. PG&E staff has been invited to the January 18th Council meeting.
It is also important to note that PG&E is actively considering improving the aesthetics of its existing facility on Main Avenue.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Inform
PG&E began community outreach on this project in 2015 and has held numerous community and stakeholder meetings, including 60 briefings and presentations to local organizations, 11 open houses and community meetings.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
Not applicable.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL AND COMMISSION ACTIONS:
No previous Council Action Items have taken place on this item.
FISCAL AND RESOURCE IMPACT:
Any fiscal impact is unknown at this time and may depend on the selected site.
CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act):
Not a Project
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378 this item does not qualify as a "project" and is therefore exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act requirements.
LINKS/ATTACHMENTS:
Exhibit A: PGE-Substation-Site-Options-and-Refined-Transmission-Line-Corridors-Map
Exhibit B: November 30, 2016 Letter from PG&E