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4 Environmental Analysis
<br /> 4.11 Land Use and Planning
<br /> expansion of electric systems as the Project, and specifically the gen-tie line, would connect to
<br /> the PG&E Tesla Substation. Finally, the gen-tie line would not be located underground; however,
<br /> this would not conflict with Policy 287, as the proposed gen-tie line would be 230 kV and
<br /> undergrounding of utility lines is not required for electrical distribution facilities carrying voltage
<br /> higher than 35 kV, pursuant to Alameda County Code Section 13.16.030.
<br /> Finally, development of the gen-tie line would be consistent with the applicable Environmental
<br /> Health and Safety Element policies of the Alameda County ECAP, including Policies 294, 296,
<br /> 309, 310, 311, 313, and 320. In accordance with Policies 294 and 296, an Air Quality and
<br /> Greenhouse Gas Technical Report has been prepared for the Project, included as Appendix G.
<br /> As discussed in Section 4.3, Air Quality, of this Draft EIR, the Project would result in less than
<br /> significant air quality impacts. Further, cumulative impacts were also considered and the Project
<br /> was also determined to have less than significant cumulative air quality impacts.
<br /> In accordance with Policies 309, 310, 311, and 313, and as discussed in Section 4.7, Geology,
<br /> Soils, and Paleontological Resources, of this Draft EIR, impacts related to seismic and geologic
<br /> hazards, including impacts related to erosion and slope stability, would be less than significant
<br /> with implementation of Mitigation Measure GEO-1, which requires the incorporation of BMPs
<br /> contained in the SWPPP to reduce potential impacts related to stormwater quality and runoff
<br /> during construction and eventual decommissioning. Further, the Project, and specifically the gen-
<br /> tle line, would not result in loss of lives or property in the event of a natural disaster, including
<br /> flooding, geologic, wildland fire, or other environmental hazards. Refer to Section 4.10, Hydrology
<br /> and Water Quality, regarding flood hazards, Section 4.7, Geology, Soils, and Paleontological
<br /> Resources, regarding geologic hazards, Section 4.18, Wildfire, regarding wildland fire hazards,
<br /> and Section 4.9, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, regarding other environmental hazards such
<br /> as those associated with the use, transport, and disposal of hazardous materials. Impacts
<br /> associated with natural hazards were all determined to be less than significant.
<br /> Finally, in accordance with Policies 244 and 320, and as discussed in Section 4.18, Wildfire, of
<br /> the Draft EIR, the Project would result in less than significant impacts related to wildland fires,
<br /> and site access would include gates and security fencing and would comply with the California
<br /> Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and/or Alameda County Fire Department
<br /> requirements.
<br /> Alameda County Measure D
<br /> With regard to the proposed gen-tie line, Measure D prohibits the County from providing or
<br /> authorizing expansion of public facilities or other infrastructure that would create more capacity
<br /> than needed to meet the development allowed by the Initiative. The Initiative does not prohibit
<br /> public facilities or other infrastructure that have no excessive growth-inducing effect on the East
<br /> County area and have permit conditions to ensure that no service can be provided beyond that
<br /> consistent with development allowed by the Initiative. Consistent with Measure D, the gen-tie
<br /> would have no growth-inducing effect on the East County area or elsewhere. Rather, the Project,
<br /> and specifically the gen-tie line, would support the reliability of the overall power grid. As
<br /> renewable energy developments continue to become a larger portion of the power grid's energy
<br /> mix, battery energy storage is a useful support system to bolster energy supplies during peak
<br /> energy use or down times in renewable energy production (such as overnight for solar energy or
<br /> on calm days for wind energy). As such, the gen-tie line would not conflict with Measure D.
<br /> Griffith Battery Energy Storage Project 4.11-25 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675
<br /> Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023
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