15. Other Issues

Parts of the S1, S2, and S4 alternatives would parallel an existing 60 kV transmission line that runs from the Tesla-Newark Corridor in Sycamore Grove Park to the Vineyard Substation, primarily along Vineyard Avenue. This 60 kV line is 5.6 miles long between the park and the Vineyard Substation. Along much of its length, the poles supporting the 60 kV line also support 21 kV distribution lines (the distribution circuit is on the lower position and the 60 kV circuit on the top of the poles). Once a 230 kV transmission connection to Vineyard Substation is established, the 60 kV line along Vineyard Avenue would no longer be required to serve the Vineyard Substation. The 21 kV distribution line would still be needed, but approximately 1.3 miles adjacent to the Vineyard Avenue Corridor Specific Plan will be moved underground by the developer of that area. A portion of the 60kV line will still be required to serve the Iuka Substation, either from the Vineyard Substation or the southern tap point in Sycamore Grove Park.

PG&E has offered to remove the entire 5.6-mile long 60 kV line if the Commission adopts the S4/S5 alternative. However, because the 21 kV distribution circuit is on the same poles, removal of the 60 kV line would not result in elimination of all of the poles. The poles would remain along 4.3 miles of this route; in these areas, the 60 kV line would be removed from the top of the poles and the poles would be "topped" (the part above the supports for the distribution lines would be cut off). The visual impact of the shorter poles would be somewhat reduced. However, in the 1.3-mile long area of the Vineyard Avenue Corridor Specific Plan, the poles would be completely removed and the lines moved underground by the developer.

Removal of the 60 kV line is not a mitigation measure required as a condition of the project. However, potential for removal of the 60 kV line is addressed because the 60 kV line makes a turn to the north at the southwest corner of the school site and follows two sides of the Neal Elementary School lot. State law requires a 100-foot setback from a 60 kV power line on school property, so the existence of this line means that the School District would lose the use of one acre of their approximately 13-acre parcel. The elimination of the 60 kV line around the school would allow fuller use of the school parcel. In addition, the 60 kV line passes adjacent to and in places, directly through, the housing development and mobile home park north of Vineyard Avenue and east of Bernal Avenue.

PG&E does not explain why it proposes to remove the 60 kV line only if the S4/S5 alternative is adopted and not other alternatives. In comments on the proposed decision PG&E indicates that removal of the 60 kV line would strand the Iuka Substation and cannot be implemented. However, it appears that at least a portion of the 60kV line will become redundant once the 230 kV connection to Vineyard Substation becomes operational.

The potential removal of the 60 kV line (and the complete removal of poles and distribution circuits for 1.3 miles) is a project benefit that we should pursue irregardless of the route selected. Removal of the 60 kV line contributes to enhancement of community values through the possibility of providing fuller use of the proposed school site, removal of transmission facilities in residential neighborhoods, and general visual improvements. As a condition of our authorization, we direct PG&E to remove the portions of the existing 60 kV line between Tesla-Newark and Vineyard Substation that are no longer needed to serve Iuka Substation once the Pleasanton area project is operational.