PG&E will host another round of public outreach meetings this month on the South County Power Connect project, a proposal to enhance electrical infrastructure in the area with a new electricity substation and two transmission lines.
At three upcoming open house meetings in Morgan Hill and Gilroy, PG&E staff will seek additional input from the public on potential project locations and design options, according to a press release from PG&E.
The meetings will take place 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road; 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Gilroy Library Community Room, 350 W. Sixth Street, Gilroy; and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Morgan Hill Unified School District board room, 15600 Concord Circle.
The input PG&E received during the first phase of outreach contributed to the selection of a substation study area and potential transmission line corridors, according to PG&E staff. PG&E will share these results with the community during the upcoming open houses and gather feedback to further refine the project and select a preferred site, routes and alternatives.
The purpose of the South County Power Connect project is to improve electrical system reliability for 43,000 PG&E customers in Morgan Hill, Gilroy, San Martin and surrounding communities, according to PG&E. The project will ensure the electric system can accommodate the region’s planned growth.
The new substation will connect to the existing Morgan Hill-Llagas 115 kV line and one of the Metcalf-Moss Landing 230 kV lines, the press release added. The proposed project will also include upgrades to a portion of the existing 115 kV transmission line that will connect the new substation to the existing Morgan Hill substation on West Main Avenue.
“The proposed South County Power Connect project is a key component of our efforts to meet the needs of the region’s growing population and economy. We gained valuable insight from the community during our first round of outreach, and we are looking look forward to hearing their additional thoughts on the potential sites and designs we will present in order to develop the best project possible for customers in the area,” said Teresa Davies, senior manager of PG&E’s San Jose Division.
The upcoming open houses represent the second phase of PG&E’s three-part outreach program. PG&E will use the feedback gathered during this process to design a project with the least overall impact.
Based on the current timeline, it is anticipated that the project will be submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in June 2017, according to the press release. The CPUC, the state agency with jurisdiction over transmission projects of this type, will conduct additional environmental review and provide opportunities for continued public comment. The CPUC has final approval over the project, including the location of the substation. It is anticipated the CPUC will issue its decision in early 2019.
