Power line plan approved

The original plan called for burying the line at the standard five to six feet. CPUC President Michael Peevey withdrew his proposal yesterday to put a 4 percent cap on the total cost of construction which would have prevented PG&E from burying the line deeper.

The alteration will boost the total project's estimated cost an additional $8 million to about $230 million.

Construction is expected to start in January on the 27-mile line that stretches from the Jefferson substation near Redwood City to the Martin substation in Brisbane. Pacific Gas and Electric maintains the line is needed to meet future power needs of San Francisco and north San Mateo County.

Yesterday's vote is considered a victory by Burlingame Councilwoman Terry Nagel and Dennis Zell, the co-chair of Concerned Residents of Burlingame. Zell fought vigorously to prevent an early PG&E proposal from building the line down Trousdale Drive and El Camino Real.

"It's a total and complete victory for Burlingame," Zell said. "I'm ecstatic. The EMF levels will be greatly reduced."

The 280 Corridor Concerned Citizens group, comprised of Burlingame residents living on Skyline Boulevard, suggested the new power line be co-located with the existing 60 kilovolt line underground east of Interstate 280 and 50 feet from residential property lines.

"Of course we are disappointed the west of Skyline compromise wasn't considered, but we are certainly pleased the line will be buried to 11 feet. I will be out there with a measuring tape to ensure PG&E buries the line according to the decision," 280CCC organizer Lara Lighthouse said yesterday.

Still, her group may fight the decision, she said.

280CCC's plan called for burying the line on property Caltrans owned and the group couldn't get the transportation agency to approve its plan.

"280CCC didn't get everything they wanted," Nagel said. "But burying the line will help mitigate the impact of EMFs. We will watch PG&E like a hawk."

The decision comes as a relief to residents in San Francisco's Bayview-Hunter's Point district as the project will allow PG&E to shut down an unsightly power plant in the neighborhood.

The need to build the line arose after a widespread power blackout hit San Francisco and northern San Mateo County on Dec. 8, 1998. The California Independent System Operator commissioned a study which concluded a 230 kilovolt line was needed to meet growing electricity needs.

Currently a 60 kilovolt line links the two substations on giant above-ground towers. PG&E had initially considered adding height to the towers to support the new line but pressure from community groups like 280CCC forced the line underground.

Once finished, the Jefferson-Martin line will add an additional 400 megawatts of capacity to the region, or enough electricity to power about 300,000 homes.

In a separate action, the CPUC said it would review its EMF policy, adopted in 1993, to address research findings by scientists at the California Department of Health Services who say EMFs can cause some degree of increased risk of childhood leukemia, adult brain cancer, Lou Gehrig's Disease and miscarriage.

Bill Silverfarb can be reached by e-mail at silverfarb@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 109. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.