CGF: Take Action: Keep transmission towers out of Peninsula Watershed

Keep transmission towers out of Peninsula Watershed
Posted February 11, 2003 / Updated December 10, 2003

• What's happening?
• About the proposed project
• The alternative proposal
• Read CGF's comment letter on the Draft EIR
• What you can do   UPDATED!


What's happening?
We have a wonderful opportunity to move the 100 PG&E transmission towers in the Peninsula Watershed underground, restore the views of the watershed, and protect sensitive habitats from damage.

PG&E is proposing new transmission lines that will require the replacement of these towers - posing potential threats to sensitive habitats in the Peninsula Watershed, which includes Upper and Lower Crystal Springs, San Andreas, and Pilarcitos reservoirs.

About the proposed project
PG&E's project would install a 27-mile long 230 KV single-circuit transmission line from the Jefferson Substation (at the southern edge of Edgewood County Park and Natural Preserve) to the Martin Substation (near the Cow Palace) in Brisbane.

The 12.4 mile northern portion, from San Bruno Avenue near Skyline to the Martin Substation, is proposed to be built underground, under city streets. The 14.7 mile southern portion of the route, from Jefferson Substation to San Bruno Avenue, is proposed to be built above-ground, along the route of the existing 60 kV transmission line that crosses Edgewood Park and then traverses the watershed lands.

Although the new above-ground lines would utilize the existing route, they would require replacement of the 100 existing towers (which are 80 to 100 feet high) with towers that are 95-150 feet high. These taller towers will require wider foundations -- and access across the land for construction equipment, staging areas, and space for excavated materials.

To reduce impacts to sensitive serpentine grassland areas, it is proposed that these towers be installed by helicopter in some locations such as Edgewood County Park and Preserve. However, this would NOT avoid the construction disturbance for excavation and pouring concrete foundations. Some of the most important habitat for serpentine species - including the threatened Bay checkerspot butterfly - is below the existing towers.

The alternative proposal
Alternative 1B for this project would underground the proposed new transmission lines under Canada Road and Skyline Boulevard. Since PG&E proposes to underground the northern 12 miles of the project (from San Bruno to Brisbane) beneath city streets, it is clearly feasible to underground the southern segment (that runs through the watershed) as well. This is a great opportunity to protect sensitive habitat and restore the visual beauty of the watershed by removing the towers.

The Public Utilities Commission and PG&E are now reviewing comments on the 1000-page Draft Environmental Impact Report.

Comments from CGF and other environmental groups, including the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club, Friends of Edgewood, and the California Native Plant Society, Santa Clara Valley Chapter, have called for undergrounding the existing 60 kV lines (along with the new 230 kV lines) and removing the existing towers. Besides the obvious environmental benefits of avoiding impacts to sensitive plant and wildlife habitats, this proposal would increase safety from terrorism and vandalism, reduce impacts to neighboring communities from electromagnetic fields (EMFs), and improve operational reliability.

What you can do

1. Write a letter to the Public Utilities Commission.
Although the period of public comment on the Draft Environmental Impact report has closed, it's not too late to let the Public Utilities Commission know that you support undergrounding these lines, both old and new.

Write regarding the PG&E Jefferson-Martin 230 kV Transmission Line Project, and let the PUC know that you support a project that avoids any disruption or incursion in the watershed, and the alternative that includes the greatest amount of undergrounding. CGF has also asked the PUC to underground the new lines and remove the existing towers as mitigation for other impacts of this project.

Write to:
Billie Blanchard, California Public Utilities Commission
c/o Aspen Environmental Group
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 800
San Francisco, CA 94104-2906
jeffmartin@AspenEG.com
Fax (415) 703-2200

Points to make

Undergrounding of the southern segment under Canada Road and Skyline Boulevard is the most environmentally protective alternative.
Undergrounding would avoid the impacts associated with installation of the 100 new towers and ongoing maintenance after construction.
These impacts include: unavoidable disturbance to the land from access roads and construction areas at each of the 100 towers, impacts to special status plant and wildlife species (particularly those endemic to serpentine grasslands and wetlands), impacts to avian species from collisions with wires and towers in foggy conditions, and increased degradation of the scenic and recreational values of the watershed.
Important additional benefits of undergrounding include improved security from terrorism and vandalism.

Please help protect our watershed habitats and viewshed. Over the past decade, the PUC has modified every proposed transmission line route thanks to public input. Your voice does make a difference!

2. Learn more.
Look at a map of the proposed route.

Read the Final EIR and other public documents on the Public Utilities Commission website.

Read the December 3, 2003 article in the Almanac.

Read the February 11, 2003 article in the San Jose Mercury News.

Read CGF's August 28, 2003 comment letter on the draft Environmental Impact Report for this project.

3. Support Committee for Green Foothills.
Become a CGF member or make a donation.


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