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Board approves Transbay Cable licenses after debate on reliability, renewables and local generation
Summary
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted CEQA findings and approved Port licenses and a right-of-way permit for the Transbay Cable project after extended questioning from supervisors about whether the cable, new in‑city combustion turbines and demand‑side measures are all required for the city’s future electric reliability.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Aug. 7 approved resolutions adopting California Environmental Quality Act findings and granting licenses and right‑of‑way permission for the Transbay Cable project, a high‑voltage transmission line that backers say will provide long‑term reliability for the city’s electrical system.
The board voted to adopt the CEQA findings and approve Port of San Francisco license terms and the city right‑of‑way permission for Transbay Cable LLC, with a package of technical amendments introduced by Supervisor Gavin Maxwell and explained by the City Attorney’s office. The approvals clear the way for a roughly 400‑megawatt high‑voltage direct‑current transmission cable that would run from a converter station outside the city to a receiving station in San Francisco.
The votes followed more than an hour of questioning by supervisors about whether the cable is needed now that the city plans to site in‑city combustion turbines and pursue aggressive energy efficiency and renewable programs. The debate centered on the independent system operator’s (Cal ISO) reliability analyses, the role of local generation in removing “reliability‑must‑run” (RMR) contracts on the Potrero (Potrero/Petrero) plant, and how renewable resources and demand‑side programs are counted for long‑term capacity.
Why it matters: Cal ISO and the city have said that a mix of transmission and in‑city generation is required to meet reliability targets through the next decade. Opponents and some supervisors pushed back, saying the city should rely more on energy efficiency and renewables and pressed for clearer assurances that Transbay will not undercut local renewable development or substitute for the city’s plan to retire older generation.
Key facts and approvals - Item 23: Board adopted CEQA findings for the Transbay Cable Project environmental impact report. - Item 24: Board approved Port of San Francisco license No. 14324 (use of submerged lands for…
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