LAST DAY TO COMPLETE SURVEY:
The Town of Corte Madera needs your help to collect information as we prepare to solicit funding from PG&E to initiate electrical power line undergrounding in Corte Madera. Your response to our survey is critical, as it will help the Town strategically position itself to apply for external funding. The survey should take no more than five minutes to complete.
The PG&E Electrical Power Undergrounding Survey will be open through January 3, 2022. You can access the survey by using the survey link or by scanning the QR Code below.
Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C73BGQ6
Background:
In May of 2021, following more than two-years of research, planning, community outreach and analysis, the Town of Corte Madera Town Council accepted a Climate Adaptation Assessment. A significant component of this document relates to wildfire risk mitigation, evacuation, education and collaboration in our fire-prone hillside communities. During the community engagement and public discussions, community members identified electrical-power undergrounding as a priority. As a result, staff and Town leaders have pursued this strategy to better understand the feasibility and benefits. The Town’s Climate Adaptation Assessment calls for a study that considers the feasibility, costs, benefits, and finance options for undergrounding electric power lines in Corte Madera’s high fire hazard neighborhoods.
In July, PG&E announced a major new initiative to underground approximately 10,000 miles of power lines in California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) designated High Fire Threat Districts to further harden our electric system and help prevent wildfires. In addition to reducing wildfire risk, undergrounding benefits customers by increasing reliability, lessening the need for Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) and minimizing vegetation management efforts.
The Town has engaged with PG&E leadership with a focus on innovation, collaboration and creative approaches to underground utility lines within the Town of Corte Madera. Based on the outcomes of the undergrounding feasibility study, the Town will send a formal request to PG&E to underground electrical utilities located in high fire hazard zones and vulnerable/unreliable areas of Town.
One component of the feasibility study and overall undergrounding discussion is the solicitation and identification of relevant data from our residents and business owners regarding community impact, willingness to pay/financial contribution, and perceived need. In order to perform a comprehensive analysis on the impact to the Town’s property owners, to understand individual property owner’s willingness to financially contribute to this identified need, and to request PG&E to prioritize the undergrounding of Corte Madera’s power lines, the Town needs input from our community as a whole.
Please take a moment to answer a few survey questions that are extremely important to achieve our goal. You can access the survey by using the following link or scanning the QR Code.
Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C73BGQ6
For anyone who prefers to fill out a survey on paper, you can schedule an appointment by calling (415)927-5050 or emailing lbarrera@tcmmail.org. Staff will provide appointments that will all be held at Town Hall, 300 Tamalpais Drive, Monday through Thursday between the hours of 10am to 3pm. Call or email Lorena Barrera to schedule your in-person visit.
