KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | Valley Town Disputes Proposed Transmission Line

Valley Town Disputes Proposed Transmission Line

PG&E's proposed Central California Clean Energy Transmission Project will stretch a transmission line from Kern County to a new substation in the foothills of eastern Fresno County. And some local residents, like Chip Ashley, say they want no part of it.
Ashley's family has owned hundreds of acres of the disputed land in the Fresno County foothills since 1915.

"Imagine looking out there and seeing transmission lines everywhere," Chip Ashley said.
Ashley says that's exactly what will happen if PG&E's proposed transmission project comes to fruition.

"I don't want to see Watts Valley get this substation because Watts Valley is simply a beautiful place. It's still a fairly wild place. We want it to stay that way."

"Right now we're just investigating where might be the best place to put this transmission line, which is needed for the central valley," PG&E spokesman Jeff Smith said.

Smith says in order to keep up with growing energy demands across the Valley; something needs to be done; but what is still in the air.

"Nothing has been decided. We've made no final decisions on where any substation or transmission line will be located. We're in the very early stages of this process," he said.

"Are we going to decide to choose some wilderness and protect places like Watt Valley, or are we simply going to use it all up in many cases for mere convenience, for waste. So some guy up in Modesto in a few years can run a huge bank of holiday lights?" asked Ashley.

People from around Watt Valley met with PG&E officials Wednesday night to discuss the proposal, and hopefully find a middle ground. But for Chip Ashley, the only ground he's concerned with is his family's.

"It's heartbreaking, not only in terms of family history, but just in terms of the natural environment," he said.

PG&E won't make their decision on where to put the substation for about six months.
After that, they'll present it to the state Public Utilities Commission, which could take about a year to make their decision.