FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                    CONTACT:  David Christy
September 11, 2000                                                                    (916) 353-4436
                                                                                                    Christy@wapa.gov

Public Scoping Meetings Planned on Voltage Support EIS

FOLSOM, Calif -- Western Area Power Administration intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement addressing Western's actions to meet the future voltage requirements of the Central Valley Project transmission system in the Sacramento area.

Public scoping meetings will be held to identify public and agency concerns, and alternatives to be considered in the EIS. Meetings will be held:
 

  • September 12, 7 to 9 p.m., City of Lodi Council Chambers, 305 West Pine St., Lodi.
  • September 20,1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and 7 to 9 p.m., Western's Sierra Nevada Region Office, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom.
  • September 21, 7 to 9 p.m., Yuba County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 215 Fifth St., Marysville.


    • Western markets electricity generated by powerplants operated by the Federal government. Growth in the greater Sacramento area continues to increase the demand on the area's interconnected transmission system. This situation is reducing the reliability and security of the power system, particularly during summer peak periods. The majority of the Sacramento area's energy needs are imported over a limited transmission system that has reached, and occasionally exceeds, its maximum rated transfer limits. Western's CVP transmission system forms an integral part of the Sacramento area transmission grid.

    To meet the demand and ensure electrical service reliability, additional generation and additional transmission in the area is needed. The EIS will address Western's actions concerning the future voltage requirements of the Sacramento area. The EIS will describe the projected near-term voltage support requirements for a 100-mile radius around Sacramento, existing transmission lines bringing power into the Sacramento area, the potential for new transmission lines and/or system upgrades in the Sacramento area, or other alternatives to alleviate the current shortfall in electrical service. Public comments on the EIS scope may be sent to Loreen McMahon, Environmental Project Manager, at Western's Sierra Nevada Region Office, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630; phone (916) 353-4460; fax (916) 985-1936.

    Comments may be e-mailed to her at mcmahon@wapa.gov. Please use SVS Comments in the e-mail subject line.

    For more information, call the EIS toll-free hotline at 1-877-913-4400 or go to the Western website www.wapa.gov and click on "What's new."

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