Pressure on gas project builds

For five years activists in Sacramento’s Avondale and Glenn Elder neighborhoods have been fighting a plan to pump 7 billion cubic feet of natural gas under their neighborhood.

The California Public Utilities Commission is likely to make a decision today (June 7) on the proposal by the Sacramento Natural Gas Storage company. The company wants to fill an old methane reservoir with natural gas, and sell the gas to the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District.

The project is being sold as a backup, in case of disruption to the pipeline that brings gas to the utility now—something that’s never happened before. On the other hand, an environmental-impact report for the project warns of extremely unlikely but “significant and unavoidable” risks of groundwater contamination, fire or explosions, should the reservoir leak (see “Deep impact” Feature Story; October 1, 2009). About 750 homes and businesses lie on top of the reservoir. Many have given permission to store gas under their homes in exchange for yearly payments.

A “no” vote by the CPUC could kill the project, which has been grinding along at a geological pace. If the commission gives the OK, it still has to face a potentially hostile Sacramento City Council.

In either case, “it’s going to set a big precedent,” says Constance Slider, a member of the Avondale Glen Elder Neighborhood Association who has led the fight against the project. “It’s the first project of its kind, to be in an urban setting. So, it’s something that’s being watched throughout the country.” (Cosmo Garvin)