Plans for PG&E Station in San Lorenzo Discussed at Homes Association Meeting

A plan to build a PG&E inspection unit in San Lorenzo met criticism and concern at the San Lorenzo Village Homes Asccociation meeting Thursday night.

Speaking to a seated crowd of roughly 40 at Thursday night’s monthly San Lorenzo Village Homes Association meeting, Jeff Janvier, a gas engineer for PG&E, introduced a project that would inspect a 20 mile natural gas transmission pipeline that runs from Fremont to Oakland and passes directly through San Lorenzo.

Once complete, the project will transform a vacant parcel at the corner of Grant and Washington Avenue into a receiving station used to remove pipeline inspection tools also known “PIGS.” 

The proposed plan, which has been in the works since 2004, is a response to a 2002 federal regulation requiring all gas pipeline operators to inspect existing pipelines before the end of 2012. 

 These PIGS would be inserted at a launching station in Fremont, travel up the pipeline towards the San Lorenzo receiving station and detect pipeline irregularities like metal corrosion along the way, Janvier explained.

The station will also receive new pressure regulation equipment with automated valves ensuring minimal noise during inspection—a contrast to the older, noisier equipment at an non-operational PG&E gas regulation facility located across the street from Arroyo High School. 

“Our goal is to install our station with the least impact to the property and community,” said Janvier. “This will allow us to inspect and maintain a safe and reliable pipeline that serves the community of San Lorenzo."

Actual pipeline inspection using this “pigging” method would occur once every seven years and last approximately two weeks.

The proposed PG&E plan was received with concern and some opposition. About ten attendees lined up behind the public podium during the post-presentation Q & A session, with many worried about the safety and impact the project’s six to eight week slated construction phase would have on local schools, businesses and traffic.

According to Janvier, construction of the station, including two new underground pipelines that will run through Washington Avenue, would take place during non-peak hours.

Janvier also added that the pipeline that runs through San Lorenzo is much newer than the San Bruno pipeline and operates at a lower pressure. Likely hood of flaw or an explosion similar to the city’s devastating pipeline explosion that occurred last September is unlikely.

To address concerns of aesthetics, the proposed station will be fenced off and landscaping strategically added to improve the external appearance.

“We want to work with the community in the engineering and design phase to come up with something that would hopefully be amenable to everyone,” said Janvier. “Our intention is not to come in here to devalue the property or create something that’s ugly in nature.”

But many, including one local resident, had concerns that the new station will simply be an eyesore. “Unfortunately, San Lorenzo is becoming a dumping ground that San Leandro doesn’t have any room for and neither does Oakland,” she said. “And we need to stop it.”

After nearly forty-five minutes of discussion, Board Members thanked PG&E for the presentation, ushering them into the back Bohannon conference room to take further questions. A handful of home owners quickly followed suit.

The crowd had diminished by over half by the time the , was accepted by the board. 

Van Huffel is slated to leave office in September after over two decades of serving the Homes Association.

“I feel Nancy has done the best she’s done for 23 years,” said one attendee during the open comment session. 

Although Homes Association President Kathy Martins sees Van Huffel’s departure as a great loss for the community, she said she is optimistic about filling the new job vacancy.  

“I‘m looking forward to ushering in someone with a new perspective, and looking forward to the process of bringing in someone with new ideas,” Martins said. 

Homes Association board members have already posted a job opening on Craigslist and received roughly 20 resumes, even though no formal recruiting process for the administrator position exists.  

In conjunction with San Lorenzo homeowners, the board members hope to hammer out a set of recruiting guidelines at the next work meeting. 

“This is a great opportunity to appreciate someone for their long hard work, but redefine what we are looking for and what the community needs,” she said.