Community Meeting About PGE 100-Foot Pole Project in Aptos

You may be aware of the PG&E Santa Cruz 115 kV Reinforcement Project:

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/environment/info/panoramaenv/SantaCruz_115kVReinforcement/SantaCruz_115%20Reinforcement%20Project.html

Essentially, the project involves replacing an existing 7.1 mile stretch of 115 kV wires, from Green Valley Road to Cox Road, with approximately 100-foot steel poles, and then adding a new 1.7 mile segment down Cox-Day Valley-McDonald-Freedom, to a substation near Aptos High School, again with 100-foot poles. This 8.8 mile project is proposed without benefit of a full EIR; a Mitigated Negative Declaration was determined to be adequate, concluding "project related environmental impacts could be reduced to a less than significant level" and "that the proposed project would not have a significant effect on the environment."

It is the feeling of most residents in the project area that there are many very serious problems with the proposed project.

The CPUC held a public information meeting at the Corralitos Grange on November 6. Approximately 80 persons attended – all critical of the project.

A neighborhood meeting was held at the Aptos Library on November 23. Approximately 100 persons attended – all critical of the project.

A second neighborhood meeting will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, November 26, at the Aptos Library at 6 p.m.