Out Valley Solution

LINK TO POWER LINE PROJECT PUBLIC NOTICE

As you may know, The Kirkwood Community has been in a special position of being the only Ski Resort this author knows which is completely off any grid. We produce all our own electricity (diesel generators) and distribute propane.

The Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District (KMPUD) is looking into connecting Kirkwood to the National Grid. KMPUD has filed a “Notice of Preparation of Joint Environmental Impact Statement(EIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR)and Scoping Meetings.  This document is available for review at KMPUD office, various libraries and the National Forest Service Office in Pioneer.

More information about the proposed project is on the KMPUD website: or

Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

Or, you can call the KMPUD office: 209-258-4444 and leave voicemail.

The purpose of the study is to consider all views regarding the environmental impact in building the power line. The Notice identifies Possible Alternatives: 1. No Action Alternative. 2. No Action Project and 3. Constructing the electrical interconnections between the KMPUD service area and the National Grid–using various routes over and under ground –all arriving at Salt Springs. The notice indicates that based on the input, additional alternatives may be considered (but they are not specifically outlined).

Information, comments and assistance can be submitted to Michael Sharp, Assistant General Manager, KMPUD at P.O. Box 247, Kirkwood, CA 95646. The net result will be a EIS/EIS draft.

One of the reasons our community, through KMPUD,  is considering going to the National Grid is that soon, some say the existing power generation may not be sufficient to adequately service our growing community (although, with the current downturn in real estate there has been no recent growth in demand). In fact, electricity usage throughout the valley has declined 17% over the last 3 years. Another major benefit is that the grid power is deemed to be a more reliable supply of power for, not only residences, but the ski lifts, which tend to have big surges in demand.  A third benefit is the ability of a larger grid to distribute power more effectively than a smaller, local grid. A fourth benefit to the Real Estate business is that popular perception is that grid connected communities may be more reliable. Lastly, we would avoid the trucking in of diesel fuel, the resulting carbon and toxic emissions, and the noise of generators in our community. Many agree, a cleaner environmental solution for our valley is to generate the power outside our valley and as we are such a small power user–to outsource the management of power to others has advantages.

Of course, there are those that will point out the con’s. We are putting ourselves in a situation for growth inducement–meaning more houses and people who could potentially alter our pristine, wilderness area. We are leaving one Investor Owned Utility for another, giving up local independence. A lot of people don’t realize that even if we connect to the Grid, the ski lifts still need a back-up power plant, and as we will be at the end of the transmission line–some say reliability may be less than closer to the generation point. We would be establishing a power system where we would have negative incentive to conserve energy and build renewable generation such as solar and wind.

The two most significant challenges to grid connection are:

1. High initial cost per kWh (close to 80 cent per kWh), due to large capitol cost spread over a small electricity usage, and that growth in electrical consumption in the next few years may not grow as much as some predict. A significant danger is that consumption could actually decrease which would only serve to make kWh cost even higher.

2. Given the small number of customers (700), we may have difficulty financing such a large capitol project(approximately $35M+) over a small asset base.

As with any major fork in the road decision like this one, there are pro’s and con’s. Here is one place you can speak up. Blog us your comments. Send your comments to KMPUD. Our community needs your input on these solutions–or others you may think up!