LAKEPORT — The Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) gave consensus to staff to pursue filing a protest or response to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voicing opposition to the PG&E SmartMeter opt-out proposal.
The four present Supervisors indicated support for the protest following a brief discussion at the Lake County Courthouse. District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing recused herself.
On March 24, PG&E submitted a proposal to the CPUC that would allow some customers to pay fees to have the device”s wireless radio capabilities shut off.
Standard residential customers choosing to “radio off” would be required to pay an upfront fee of either $135 or $270 and a standardized monthly fee, either a fixed fee or a fee based on energy usage.
“I don”t believe this is an opt-out proposal at all,” District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington said about the “radio off” option.
The BOS ordered a moratorium on installations in the unincorporated areas of the county in early March. PG&E, and installation contractor Wellington Energy, have continued to put in SmartMeters across the county.
PG&E argues that the CPUC has jurisdiction over the company”s actions, not local governments.
“PG&E and the CPUC have not been listening and couldn”t care less about local moratoriums,” BOS Chairman Jim Comstock said.
The CPUC is currently reviewing the opt-out proposal application and could schedule a pre-hearing conference on the issue later this month.
Also during Tuesday”s regular meeting, the BOS voted 4-1 to approve a findings of fact document prepared by County Counsel regarding the BOS”s intended decision on the Bottle Rock Power (BRP) expansion project appeal.
BRP, which currently operates a power plant and three geothermal well pads on High Valley Road in Cobb, has proposed to construct two new well pads, drill up to 22 production and injection wells and add 1.3 miles of pipeline on adjacent land.
Friends of Cobb Mountain appealed the Lake County Planning Commission”s decisions to certify the final environmental impact report, approve minor modifications to BRP”s existing use permit and associated traffic control plan, and the new use permit for the project.
The BOS made an intended decision in March, voting 4-1 to deny the appeal. The final decision to deny the appeal occurred by a 4-1 vote on Tuesday after the BOS approved the findings of fact. Rushing dissented Tuesday as well as in March.
The BOS indicated by consensus that it would approve of a letter in concept supporting the Walker Ridge Wind Park project upon completion of the environmental review process.
AltaGas, a Canadian company, has proposed to construct 23 to 29 wind turbines that could produce up to 70 megawatts of energy on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land on the border of Lake and Colusa counties.
The project would create short-term and long-term jobs, permanently disturb 80 acres and improve fire monitoring, according to Julia Spiess, speaking on behalf of AltaGas. Increased presence in the area could also lead to a decrease in illegal activity, such as poaching and marijuana cultivation, Spiess said.
Initial environmental studies have begun and drafts could be completed by this summer, according to Spiess.
Each Supervisor indicated support for the project dependent upon successful completion of the environmental review process. County staff will be drafting a letter in support of the project concept and presenting it to the BOS at a future meeting.
The local supervisor of the state”s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Parole Operations Division updated the BOS on the potential affects of criminal justice realignment under the recently signed Assembly Bill 109.
Parole Agent John McNunn said about 150 felons, which traditionally would be under state parole”s supervision, could be added to county supervision. Lake County currently has 250 to 300 parolees, McNunn said.
Under the new legislation, the types of felons moved into county supervision would include those convicted of petty theft, driving under the influence, spousal battery and drug sales, according to McNunn. Sex offenders, felons released with a second strike and dangerous or violent felons would remain under the state”s supervision, he said.
McNunn called the realignment a cost-saving measure that could negatively affect community safety, but added “it”s a moot point at this point because there”s no funding for it.”
District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown presented a proclamation to members of the Lake County District Attorney”s Office and its Victim-Witness Division designating the current week as National Crime Victims” Rights Week in Lake County.
“Because of what they do, justice is done,” Brown said of the victim advocates.
The theme for the week is “reshaping the future, honoring the past,” Victim-Witness Program Administrator Deborah Wallace said after accepting the proclamation.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
