Substation
PG&E are proposing to develop a 6-acre electrical substation within the rural Watsonville corridor area of Morgan Hill. Five 10-acre sites have been selected as candidates for the substation development:
Watsonville-A :: Watsonville Road and West San Martin Lane
Watsonville-B :: Watsonville Road and Uvas Road
Watsonville-C :: Watsonville Road and Redwood Retreat
Sycamore :: Sycamore Drive and Armsby Lane
Day :: Day Road (close to Watsonville Road)
The image on this page shows the potential impact to just one of the sites, the other Watsonville corridor locations could become just as environmentally damaging and detrimental to the area.
These five proposed sites are all situated within areas of natural beauty, some are specifically designated by Santa Clara County as Scenic Roads others form part of the South Valley Wine Trail. Without exception, developing an industrial scale electrical substation will severely impact the rural beauty both residents and wineries alike work hard to maintain. There will be no disguising a fenced in, brightly lit, industrial compound which will no doubt repel tourists, visitors and residents from this world class wine producing area. This charming landscape will be transformed into an industrial complex. Your property value will suffer.
This petition proposes that developing on any one of the Watsonville corridor sites will cause irreparable damage to the landscape and community and significantly affect property values. Instead, the petition proposes that PG&E upgrade the substation located on West Main Avenue in Morgan Hill which will make use of the existing infrastructure and have less environmental impact on an already designated electrical facility.
PG&E's plans along with proposed site maps can be found here
Fire Danger
Beyond the irreparable damage to the environment, there will be an increased fire danger in a zone already designated as a High Fire Danger zone. This recent CAL Fire Report illustrates a worrying 25% of the top 20 destructive fires in California were caused by electrical faults.
Uninvited attention
Yet more disturbing is the attraction the substation would hold for vandals and even organized attacks as witnessed at the Metcalf facility in Coyote Ranch Road, San Jose: Metcalf Substation Sniper Attack. Electrical substations appear to be a common target for nefarious activity. If the more obvious locations such as Metcalf can't be adequately protected then a rural site within the Watsonville Road corridor would make an easy target.
Sign the petition
There are several other locations available to PG&E that do not pose these environmental problems and are located closer to the existing substation at Main Avenue. PG&E's plans for the development will be submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission in early to mid-2017. Please add your name to this petition and tell others that may be affected by PG&E's proposal. We need to speak loud, clear and often to PG&E so that our collective voice can be heard and have them reconsider more appropriate locations other than the five sites located in the Watsonville Road corridor.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
September 26, 2016
September 21, 2016
We hit our first big milestone today and the momentum building against these substation sites is undeniable. Post this page on Facebook right now to keep the pressure on PG&E. Text three of your neighbors to ensure they know the threat this development poses to our rural corridor.
September 19, 2016
We hit our first 100 signatures today. Now it is time to turn this momentum into action by texting three neighbors and asking them to sign the petition.
September 18, 2016
PG&E remains quiet despite our growing opposition to these substation sites. Call your local representative today and demand they push back against this rural industrial encroachment.
Reached 100 supporters
September 17, 2016
235 Comments
PG&E doesn't NEED another substation SITE. Especially one located in the designated scenic road area of the Watsonville Rd corridor. Even PG&E lists the existing sub-station in Morgan Hill as a potential site. That is the site that should be used.
And "No" to locating a sub-station on Sycamore Drive - a Santa Clara County designated scenic road. There are other suitable locations within the city limits of Morgan Hill. Robert Benich - former Morgan Hill Planning Commissioner
All the proposed sites are higher fire danger than expanding Metcalf or more urban settings. In addition to the station, new lines across wooded areas will be required to connect with the existing high voltage transmission lines.
A substation in any of these 5 proposed sites would be detrimental to the rural character, natural habitat/riparian corridor, wine trail, and property values, while increasing fire risks. It's unacceptable for PGE impose such a blight on this beautiful area.
This area is at the center of the burgeoning Gilroy/Morgan Hill wine country. So say goodbye to that revenue. Also, have we forgotten how fast the Croy Road fire spread? A tinder box isn't a great place for an electrical complex.
Please keep this industrial site in an industrial zoned location. This will be a failure of epic proportion to impact the open space of Uvas valley.
Find a parcel not so close to homes.. Buy some @open space " from government
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Substation
PG&E are proposing to develop a 6-acre electrical substation within the rural Watsonville corridor area of Morgan Hill. Five 10-acre sites have been selected as candidates for the substation development:
Watsonville-A :: Watsonville Road and West San Martin Lane
Watsonville-B :: Watsonville Road and Uvas Road
Watsonville-C :: Watsonville Road and Redwood Retreat
Sycamore :: Sycamore Drive and Armsby Lane
Day :: Day Road (close to Watsonville Road)
The image on this page shows the potential impact to just one of the sites, the other Watsonville corridor locations could become just as environmentally damaging and detrimental to the area.
These five proposed sites are all situated within areas of natural beauty, some are specifically designated by Santa Clara County as Scenic Roads others form part of the South Valley Wine Trail. Without exception, developing an industrial scale electrical substation will severely impact the rural beauty both residents and wineries alike work hard to maintain. There will be no disguising a fenced in, brightly lit, industrial compound which will no doubt repel tourists, visitors and residents from this world class wine producing area. This charming landscape will be transformed into an industrial complex. Your property value will suffer.
This petition proposes that developing on any one of the Watsonville corridor sites will cause irreparable damage to the landscape and community and significantly affect property values. Instead, the petition proposes that PG&E upgrade the substation located on West Main Avenue in Morgan Hill which will make use of the existing infrastructure and have less environmental impact on an already designated electrical facility.
PG&E's plans along with proposed site maps can be found here
Fire Danger
Beyond the irreparable damage to the environment, there will be an increased fire danger in a zone already designated as a High Fire Danger zone. This recent CAL Fire Report illustrates a worrying 25% of the top 20 destructive fires in California were caused by electrical faults.
Uninvited attention
Yet more disturbing is the attraction the substation would hold for vandals and even organized attacks as witnessed at the Metcalf facility in Coyote Ranch Road, San Jose: Metcalf Substation Sniper Attack. Electrical substations appear to be a common target for nefarious activity. If the more obvious locations such as Metcalf can't be adequately protected then a rural site within the Watsonville Road corridor would make an easy target.
Sign the petition
There are several other locations available to PG&E that do not pose these environmental problems and are located closer to the existing substation at Main Avenue. PG&E's plans for the development will be submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission in early to mid-2017. Please add your name to this petition and tell others that may be affected by PG&E's proposal. We need to speak loud, clear and often to PG&E so that our collective voice can be heard and have them reconsider more appropriate locations other than the five sites located in the Watsonville Road corridor.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
September 26, 2016
September 21, 2016
We hit our first big milestone today and the momentum building against these substation sites is undeniable. Post this page on Facebook right now to keep the pressure on PG&E. Text three of your neighbors to ensure they know the threat this development poses to our rural corridor.
September 19, 2016
We hit our first 100 signatures today. Now it is time to turn this momentum into action by texting three neighbors and asking them to sign the petition.
September 18, 2016
PG&E remains quiet despite our growing opposition to these substation sites. Call your local representative today and demand they push back against this rural industrial encroachment.
Reached 100 supporters
September 17, 2016
235 Comments
PGE claims they informed the residents. Tiny print in the back of a newspaper does not suffice. A small postcard with a non-descript invite to a 'community talk' without stating the purpose of the talk is just short of a coverup. Shame on you, PG&E !!!
PG&E doesn't NEED another substation SITE. Especially one located in the designated scenic road area of the Watsonville Rd corridor. Even PG&E lists the existing sub-station in Morgan Hill as a potential site. That is the site that should be used.
And "No" to locating a sub-station on Sycamore Drive - a Santa Clara County designated scenic road. There are other suitable locations within the city limits of Morgan Hill. Robert Benich - former Morgan Hill Planning Commissioner
All the proposed sites are higher fire danger than expanding Metcalf or more urban settings. In addition to the station, new lines across wooded areas will be required to connect with the existing high voltage transmission lines.
A substation in any of these 5 proposed sites would be detrimental to the rural character, natural habitat/riparian corridor, wine trail, and property values, while increasing fire risks. It's unacceptable for PGE impose such a blight on this beautiful area.
This area is at the center of the burgeoning Gilroy/Morgan Hill wine country. So say goodbye to that revenue. Also, have we forgotten how fast the Croy Road fire spread? A tinder box isn't a great place for an electrical complex.
Please keep this industrial site in an industrial zoned location. This will be a failure of epic proportion to impact the open space of Uvas valley.
Find a parcel not so close to homes.. Buy some @open space " from government
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PGE claims they informed the residents. Tiny print in the back of a newspaper does not suffice. A small postcard with a non-descript invite to a 'community talk' without stating the purpose of the talk is just short of a coverup. Shame on you, PG&E !!!