Proposed Natural Gas Pipeline Stirs Controversy

The 47-mile pipeline would run under Pomerado Road

A 47-mile natural gas pipeline running through parts of Rancho Bernardo and Poway is causing some controversy among residents.

The concern for some with a pipeline running under Pomerado Road is safety in neighborhoods where there are churches, schools and homes.

The San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) pipeline would run from the Riverside county line down to MCAS Miramar.

SDG&E spokesperson Jennifer Ramp said the way things are now San Diego County relies on just one transmission pipeline to bring in 90 percent of our natural gas.

β€œA lot of people don't realize how critical natural gas is to our economy. Natural gas fuels our economy,” Ramp said. β€œThis proposed pipeline would provide more reliability to the system so that there are actually two robust pipelines bringing in that clean and affordable natural gas." 

SDG&E is now waiting for approval from the California Public Utilities Commission for the projected $639 million project.

Opponent Rosemary Vandervort said she's already received a notice requesting to raise her rates in her utilities bill. The request regards the β€˜pipeline safety and reliability project.’

She argues the project is far from safe and has been fighting against the route running through Pomerado Road for 23 years.

β€œI just care about the safety of the kids,” Vandervort said. β€œAnd if people care about it they need to speak up because otherwise it's going in.”

One concern is construction on the busy road, though Ramp said SDG&E will develop traffic plans.

Vandervort and others worry about an emergency such as an earthquake or gas leak.

β€œI’m concerned of an event of an earthquake or leak in a pipe that will cause an explosion. How will you evacuate all these people? What is the evacuation plan? And there is none in place as far as I know,” she said. β€œA major explosion like we had in San Bruno, it could happen here.”

β€œOur first priority is safety,” Ramp countered. β€œThis project will make the system even safer. Constructed with state of the art technology and will be a safe pipeline.”

Vandervort and other opponents have opened an online petition against the project, which has just over 60 signatures.

SDG&E are asking for a decision from the CA Public Utilities Commission by 2017 so they can put the line in service by 2020.

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