PG&E to shut down Hunters Point power plant on May 15
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. said late Monday that it will close its Hunters Point power plant -- the last in San Francisco -- on May 15.
The utility said a new transmission line just put into operation in San Mateo County will provide power reliability to replace the Hunters Point plant.
"PG&E has worked long and hard to plan and build transmission projects that will allow us to close Hunters Point Power Plant, just as we promised," said Tom King, president and CEO of PG&E, in a statement. The Jefferson-Martin 230,000 volt, $221 million transmission line was turned on April 29.
All but three miles of the 27-mile line are underground within roadways, with the remainder overhead in an existing utility corridor along the edge of a watershed. A short, temporary overhead portion spans the roadway above Crystal Springs Dam near Hillsborough. That portion will eventually be replaced with an underground line when the county rebuilds the bridge.
PG&E (NYSE: PCG) said it will officially close the plant on May 15, but the utility said it doesn't expect to run the plant during the next two weeks.
"For the last several decades, the residents of the Southeast have worked tirelessly to shut down this power plant. Today, thanks to the unflagging commitment of the community -- and the good will of PG&E -- we are on the eve of a new era for San Francisco's southeast," said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom in a statement included in PG&E's announcement.
"We are all very pleased that the hard work and effort of the community, and PG&E working with us, has paid off," said Linda Richardson, chair of the CloseIt! Coalition and nearby resident, in the same announcement. "This is a historic occasion that will be celebrated for a long time to come."
The Jefferson-Martin line connects substations in Redwood City and Brisbane and can carry as much as 400 megawatts -- enough to power more than 300,000 homes.
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. said late Monday that it will close its Hunters Point power plant -- the last in San Francisco -- on May 15.
The utility said a new transmission line just put into operation in San Mateo County will provide power reliability to replace the Hunters Point plant.
"PG&E has worked long and hard to plan and build transmission projects that will allow us to close Hunters Point Power Plant, just as we promised," said Tom King, president and CEO of PG&E, in a statement. The Jefferson-Martin 230,000 volt, $221 million transmission line was turned on April 29.
All but three miles of the 27-mile line are underground within roadways, with the remainder overhead in an existing utility corridor along the edge of a watershed. A short, temporary overhead portion spans the roadway above Crystal Springs Dam near Hillsborough. That portion will eventually be replaced with an underground line when the county rebuilds the bridge.
PG&E (NYSE: PCG) said it will officially close the plant on May 15, but the utility said it doesn't expect to run the plant during the next two weeks.
"For the last several decades, the residents of the Southeast have worked tirelessly to shut down this power plant. Today, thanks to the unflagging commitment of the community -- and the good will of PG&E -- we are on the eve of a new era for San Francisco's southeast," said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom in a statement included in PG&E's announcement.
"We are all very pleased that the hard work and effort of the community, and PG&E working with us, has paid off," said Linda Richardson, chair of the CloseIt! Coalition and nearby resident, in the same announcement. "This is a historic occasion that will be celebrated for a long time to come."
The Jefferson-Martin line connects substations in Redwood City and Brisbane and can carry as much as 400 megawatts -- enough to power more than 300,000 homes.