STATE OF CALIFORNIA
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Pacific Gas & Electric Company's (PG&E) proposed Vierra Reincement Project (project) will expand the existing Vierra Substation in the City of Lathrop and build a new, double-circuit power line west from the substation, approximately 1 mile to the existing Tesla-Stockton Cogen Junction 115 kilovolt (kV) Power Line. The new double-circuit line will be made up of the Tesla-Vierra and Vierra-Stockton Cogen Junction 115kV power lines, located together on approximately 16 tubular steel poles (TSPs). The new power line will reinforce the area's 115 kV system as well as the 60 kV systems connected to it a Kasson, Manteca, and Salado substations. The existing 115 kV equipment will be replaced, upgraded, and reconfigured to accomodate the new 15 kV double-circuit lines within the expanded Vierra Substation. To accomodate the substation expansion and future improvements to Vierra Road, three existing TSPs supporting both the Vierra-Tracy-Kasson 115 kV Power Line and the Manteca-Vierra 115 kV Power Line will be relocated, two TSPs will be installed, and two TSPs will be removed. Additionally, a minimum of one wood pole will be removed and one new single-circuit TSP and one new single-circuit light-duty steel pole will be installed to re-route the Howland Road 115 kV Tap to its new termination bay within the expanded substation.

Proposed Objectives and Purpose

• Increase service reliability to electricity customers in the cities of Lathrop, Manteca, and surrounding communities by alleviating a potentional overload condition due to the growing load in the existing system
• Meet the category "P6" planning performance requirement established by NERC that the electric system will operate reliably during the loss of two transmission circuits
• Increase electric system capacity to help meet increasing demand in and around the cities of Lathrop and Manteca
• Design and build the CAISO-approved project in a safe, cost-effective manner that will also minimize environmental impacts

Public Review Process

Persons or groups may protest the granting in whole or in part of the authority sought in the proposed project and request that the CPUC hold hearing on the application. Copies of the Notice of Application/Proponent's Environment Assesment (PEA) for a Permit to Construct are available for viewing at the following locations:

Proponent's Environmental Assessment (PEA)

Vierra Reinforcement Project Deficiency Report

PG&E’s Response to the Project Deficiency Report

Vierra Project Description Refinement

PG&E’s Responses to Data Requests

• Data Request Set No. 1 - Part A
• Data Request Set No. 1 - Part B
• Data Request Set No. 2 - Part A
• Data Request Set No. 1 - Part C and Set No. 2 - Part B
• Data Request Set No. 3 - Part A
• Data Request Set No. 3 - Part B
• Data Request Set No. 4 - Part A (Confidential)
• Data Request Set No. 4 - Part B
• Data Request Set No. 4 - Part C
• Data Request Set No. 4 - Part D (CalEEmod files not included)
• Data Request Set No. 4 - Part E
• Data Request Set No. 4 - Part F
• Data Request Set No. 4 - Part G
• Data Request Set No. 5 - Part A
• Data Request Set No. 5 - HRA Memo

Draft IS/MND

On October 16, 2020, the CPUC released a Noticed of Intent (NOI) to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the Vierra Reinforcement Project. A link to view the Draft IS/MND is provided here.

The Draft IS/MND was circulated on October 16, 2020 with a 30-day public comment period extending through November 16, 2020.

Final IS/MND

The Final IS/MND consists of a single volume with the Mitigated Negative Declaration statement to be adopted by the CPUC, and the Initial Study, which evaluates the potential significance of project impacts. The Initial Study also contains the Mitigation, Monitoring, Reporting, and Compliance Plan to be approved by the CPUC. A new chapter (Chapter 7) has been added to the Initial Study that presents the written comments received during the public review period, and written responses to those comments. Consistent with Executive Orders N-25-20 and N-29-20, and the recommendations from the California Department of Public Health to encourage physcial distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19, the Final IS/MND is only available electronically by clicking the link below:

• Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration

Hard copies of the Final IS/MND document can be made available to the public by submitting request to the address and number below.

This environmental document will need to be approved by the CPUC before taking effect. A hearing to approve the project and Final IS/MND has not been scheduled, but interest parties can follow or subscribe to receive updates at the CPUC's proceeding information search website by searching project number A.18-06-004.

Once approved, a Notice of Determination for the Final IS/MND will be posted to this website.

For Additional Information

The CPUC's Environmental Review Team is managing the environmental evaluation of the Proposed Project. To request additional information or to be added to the mailing list, please contact us by email, fax, or phone at:

The CPUC's project manager for the Proposed Project is:

Michael Rosauer
Energy Division
Infrastructure Permitting and CEQA
505 Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94012