THE CENTRAL VALLEY CONNECT PROJECT: PG&E PROPOSES NEW HIGH-VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINE IN WEST FRESNO COUNTY
In July 2014, PG&E released information regarding a proposed high-voltage transmission line in west Fresno County, referred to as the Central Valley Connect Project. The lines would be built on high poles or lattice towers. Although the route of the line is not yet selected, the project will require a series of takings to support its 70 mile span. To date, PG&E has not released any information regarding the required takings or the payment of just compensation to affected property owners.
PG&E has released five proposed corridor routes for public comment. The proposed corridors were selected based on a number of factors, including avoidance of major facilities like Lemoore Naval Air Station and wildlife preserves, and were designed to target farmland that has been fallowed. Two of the corridors follow a relatively straight path between the two substations. The remaining three take more varied routes. For example, one proposed corridor skirts the communities of Caruthers and Riverdale in southern Fresno County, runs through Kings County, passes east of Lemoore military base, and turns west towards the Gates substation. The fourth and fifth proposed corridors take a more westward approach across southern Madera County, dip south toward Interstate 5, and then southeast to the Gates substation.
The California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) has the final say regarding whether the project goes forward and the corridor route that is selected. Currently, PG&E anticipates filing an approval application in early 2016. The approval process involves an environmental analysis and multiple public hearings, and typically takes 18 months to complete. Following approval, construction would take place in 2018 and 2019.
The project cost is estimated at $115 million to $145 million. Overall, increases in electric rates for California customers would be less than 5 cents per month for residential bills and 40 cents for commercial bills. Additionally, as a result of the project funding source, the cost would be spread among electric utility customers across the entire state—not just amongst PG&E’s customers.
According to PG&E, the new transmission line is necessary to accommodate west Fresno County’s growing electricity demand, which PG&E attributes primarily to farmers’ increasing reliance on irrigation pumps. PG&E also stated that the existing poles are unable to accommodate more lines and cannot provide the additional capacity required.