Yuba to gauge proposed power line

Yuba County supervisors moved Tuesday to schedule a public workshop about a proposed new transmission line in the Central Valley that could snake down through the county's eastern portion before jutting to the west through Plumas Lake.

Board chair John Nicoletti suggested May 18 as a date for the Transmission Agency of Northern California and the Western Area Power Administration to publicly explain the project to county residents and supervisors.

The route through Yuba County, which would go east of Marysville and then jut west into Sutter County near 40 Mile Road, would involve several tall transmission towers and smaller substations placed along the path.

According to the county, the towers would be 150 feet tall and require a 200-foot-wide strip of land around them, separate from any existing transmission towers.

Up to five structures could be placed in every mile of the line, according to a project description in the agenda item.

Two other proposed line routes, one in Sutter County and the other along the valley's western edge, are also under discussion. The transmission line project is in the final stages of a public scoping process, with a draft environmental impact statement expected next spring.

Ed Palmeri, an assistant planner for Yuba County, told supervisors that the time to have some input is now.

"This would have an impact on not only existing residences, but commercial and agricultural areas," he said. "We have a chance to emphasize what the concerns are."

The workshop would also give residents an opportunity to speak about how the project would affect them if it follows the route through Yuba County, Palmeri and Nicoletti said.

Palmeri added that Sutter County officials would be invited to attend the May 18 hearing. Some county officials have attended previous meetings in Williams and Chico.

Supervisor Hal Stocker, whose district is near the proposed Yuba route, said he understood the need for improved electrical transmission efficiency, but saw a local concern as well.

"I can see that this would have some real impacts on the county," he said.

James Pearson, a farmer who lives in the Arboga area, told supervisors he worries that if the line comes through his land, he'll be negatively affected with little recourse.

"I think it would be very difficult to continue my farming with these lines adjacent to us," he said, adding that the transmission lines would also make it tougher to sell his property if he couldn't farm anymore.

"Who would want to live near them?" he asked.

Palmeri said there would be public notice before the May 18 workshop, which would be at 4 p.m. and run for two hours, to give more people a chance to offer input.

A final decision on the path the line will use is not expected until at least 2011, and construction would start after that. The line is scheduled to be operational in 2014.

Powerline Timeline

Here's what's next with the process for establishing a new electricity transmission line in the Central Valley:

May 18: Yuba County will host a public workshop on the power line proposal, with a presentation by the Western Area Power Administration. Public input will be encouraged.

Spring 2010: A draft version of the Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement on the project is scheduled to be released.

Fall 2011: Decision on which of three routes will be used for the lines, with construction to follow.

2014: New transmission line scheduled to be operational.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Ben van der Meer at 749-4709 or bvandermeer@appealdemocrat.com.