Final decision not expected until 2019

Published in the December 9 – 22, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life

By Marty Cheek

PG&E has started seeking public feedback for its proposed South County Power Connect project, which will build a new substation in the region and include two new transmission lines to connect the new substation to the local power grid. The project will also upgrade transmission lines in the area for safety and greater efficiency.

“In September, PG&E hosted its first series of public open houses to introduce and encourage feedback on the proposed South County Power Connect electric transmission project designed to improve electric reliability and accommodate growth that has occurred in Morgan Hill, Gilroy and southern Santa Clara County,” said Teresa Davies, senior manager of the San Jose division for PG&E.

South Valley has experienced rapid growth that has driven the need for new investments in the electric system, she said. The South County Power Connect project will strengthen the region’s power grid by providing more system redundancy and increasing the electric system’s capacity, which helps provide the flexibility needed to accommodate the region’s planned growth.

A location has not yet been determined, Davies said.

PG&E is seeking input through “open houses” in Gilroy, San Martin and Morgan Hill next year to decide what might be the best location for the substation, she said.

Reasons for the South County Power Connect project include improving reliability of electric service, she said. Also, investments in the power grid will allow the utility company to provide a highly reliable and stable electricity source that meets the needs of Morgan Hill’s, Gilroy’s and Silicon Valley’s firms and businesses as the region’s population grows.

A third benefit is the move toward renewable energy, she said. New electric infrastructure helps facilitate the delivery of electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power and supports California’s proposed goal of obtaining 50 percent of the state’s energy from renewable sources by 2030.

The open houses are the first steps in a comprehensive environmental review and public outreach process. PG&E will conduct its own environmental assessment and gather feedback to help shape the location, design and alignment of the project. Following these initial steps, the project will be submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission, where more environmental review and public comment will be undertaken. CPUC has jurisdiction on the project’s approval, including siting and routing, and based on the current timeline, a final decision is expected in 2019. Construction will start after CPUC approval.

Ultimately, the final components and location will be determined by the CPUC. PG&E will submit a formal project application to the CPUC for review and approval in mid-2017. Based on the current timeline, the project is expected to be operational in 2021.