Wheeler Ridge Junction Project
News and updates
PG&E Seeks Public Feedback on Proposed Infrastructure Project
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Pacific Gas and Electric Company is holding several public open houses to introduce and encourage feedback on a proposed electric transmission project. The Bakersfield Power Connect project includes a new substation, enhancements to existing substations and transmission line upgrades. The project will enhance future electric reliability and capacity for more than 100,000 customers in Bakersfield and surrounding Kern County communities.
PG&E invites the community to four open house meetings to learn more about the proposed project, benefits, and provide feedback.
PG&E Bakersfield Power Connect Meetings
Tuesday, October 6; 7-9 p.m.
Tevis Junior High School, Multi-Purpose Room
3901 Pin Oak Park Blvd., Bakersfield
Wednesday, October 7; 5-8 p.m.
Friendship House Community Center, Gymnasium
2424 Cottonwood Rd., Bakersfield
Thursday, October 8, 2015; 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m.
Kern Agricultural Pavilion
3300 E. Belle Terrace, Bakersfield
“The proposed Bakersfield Power Connect project is essential to accommodate growth in the region by supporting the needs of residents, farmers and businesses. We encourage community members to participate in one of our upcoming meetings,” said Denise Newton, senior manager of PG&E’s Kern Division.
The area is currently served by transmission lines that were built in the early 1960s. Since then, the population has more than tripled, and the region’s economy has grown significantly. The transformative growth over the last decade in Bakersfield is driving the need for new investments in the local electric system.
The proposed upgrades will increase capacity and redundancy of Bakersfield’s electric system and provide the flexibility needed to protect against power outages. The investments will specifically support the changing needs of the region’s agricultural, industrial, oil, and gas sectors.
“The upcoming open houses are among the first steps in a comprehensive environmental review and public outreach process. We look forward to gathering input from the community, specifically feedback concerning potential locations,” said Newton.
The project will include upgrades to approximately 30 miles of existing transmission lines that will connect the new substation to other PG&E owned substations including: Wheeler Ridge, Kern PP, Magunden, Lamont and Stockdale substations. PG&E will conduct an environmental study and gather feedback from the community to help determine the location and design of the project.
The project will be submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for additional environmental review and public comment. The CPUC has final approval over the project and its location. More details regarding the project can be found by visiting www.pge.com/bakersfieldpc.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to 15 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/.
