MID board again delays action on project to build power lines

The Merced Irrigation District opted Tuesday to further delay a decision on whether to build 13 miles of power lines, a project that supporters say is needed to promote business growth but that some residents say would create an eyesore in their neighborhood and hurt property values.

During a meeting Tuesday, the district’s board of directors agreed that more discussion is needed.

“I stand fully in support of this project,” said board member Scott Koehn, whose Division 2 would be most affected by the project. “But I want to explore alternatives.”

The project, which would expand MID’s power system to address reliability concerns and serve new areas of Merced, would install 13.1 miles of lines on the outskirts of south Merced, including a substation near Mission Avenue. The proposed route would begin at Franklin Road and Highway 99, head south and cut east following Rice and Reilly roads. The final stretch would turn north, ending at the new Lyons Substation on Mission Avenue near Miles Road.

Area residents complain their properties would be impaired by the power lines. Last month, about two dozen residents and Koehn attended a workshop to discuss the idea of putting the power lines underground and concerns about having above-ground lines near south Merced’s municipal airport. Putting the lines underground, however, would result in much higher costs, greater environmental impact and varying reliability, according to a report from the workshop.

Residents who live along Bailey and Wardrobe avenues pleaded with the board Tuesday to spend the extra money to put the power lines underground and consider an alternative route along Thornton Road near the airport. The workshop report estimated underground lines cost about 14 times as much as overhead power lines.

Judy Prine said one of the power poles would be within feet of her bedroom. She said she didn’t mind if it was located elsewhere on her property and asked board members to consider working with her for an alternative location.

Randy Bertuccio, whose property also would be affected by the power poles and lines, asked the board and MID staff to work with residents.

“We’re all here trying to solve the issue,” he said.

The board asked MID staff to consider alternatives but avoid making any changes so significant that it would alter the environmental impact report published last year. Directors said they were motivated to see progress on the project, which as been in the works since 2011. Tuesday’s decision marked the second time the board has opted to delay action for further discussion.

Frank Quintero, Merced’s economic development director, said he supports the project because having two options for power providers attracts new businesses to the city.

MID provides hydroelectric-generated power to more than 8,000 businesses and residents, according to its website. The larger power provider in the area is PG&E.

Ron Cheek with Quad Graphics in Merced said he would support any project that improves infrastructure for businesses as long as it’s executed responsibly.

Joe Stagnaro, president of food service and grocery supply chain company McLane Pacific, also voiced his support of the project. “We rely on MID,” he said. “We need reliable power.”

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 5:22 PM with the headline "MID board again delays action on project to build power lines."