2014 11-12 dc plug webinar presentation-final
TRANSCRIPT
Presenters:Maisie Hughes, Director of Advocacy Suraj K. Sazawal, Advocacy AssociateEmily Oaksford, Planning Associate
Guests: John P. Thomas, DDOT, Associate Director of UFANathan McElroy, Pepco Staff ForesterScott Placide, Pepco Engineer
DC PLUG: Burying Lines, Raising QuestionsNovember 12, 2014
Welcome: Today’s Agenda
Welcome Introductions Background What we know What we don’t know Q & A with DDOT & Pepco
Maisie Hughes ASLA, ISA Certified Arborist Director, Advocacy
DC PLUG: Burying Lines, Raising Questions
Welcome: What You Will Learn Today
Maisie Hughes ASLA, ISA Certified Arborist Director, Advocacy
The purpose of this webinar is to:
• Provide an overview of the District and Pepco’s Triennial Underground Infrastructure Improvement Projects Plan (DC PLUG)
• Identify what is known and unknown about the project
• Inform District residents how their community will be impacted
Introductions
Casey Trees’ mission is “to restore, enhance and protect the tree canopy of the nation’s capital.”
Maisie Hughes ASLA, ISA Certified Arborist Director, Advocacy
Introductions
The mission of the Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) is to manage and increase the District's street trees to maintain healthy trees that provide:
improved air quality; increased ground water retention that minimizes
runoff and flooding; temperature moderation; aesthetics; and other benefits to our community.
Introductions
Nathan McElroy, PepcoStaff Forester
Delivering Safe and Reliable Electric Service
Background: D.C. Power Lines Undergrounding
This 7 – 10 year
undergrounding project is a
public-private partnership
to bury overhead
primary power lines to
improve electric service
reliability during all weather
conditions
Suraj K. SazawalAdvocacy Associate
Background: D.C. Power Lines Undergrounding
This 7 – 10 year
undergrounding project is a
public-private partnership
to bury overhead
primary power lines to
improve electric service
reliability during all weather
conditions
Suraj K. SazawalAdvocacy Associate
Background: Key Definitions
Background: Key Definitions
Background: Key Definitions
Background: Key Definitions
Suraj K. SazawalAdvocacy Associate
Background: Before Undergrounding
Suraj K. SazawalAdvocacy Associate
Suraj K. SazawalAdvocacy Associate
Background: After Undergrounding
Background: Before Undergrounding
Suraj K. SazawalAdvocacy Associate
Suraj K. SazawalAdvocacy Associate
Background: After Undergrounding
Background: Why Underground Power Lines?
Suraj K. SazawalAdvocacy Associate
Source: D.C.’s Office of the People's Counsel
Background: Timeline
Suraj K. SazawalAdvocacy Associate
July 2012 August 2012 May 2014 June 2014
Pepco and DDOT file their Triennial Plan with the District; the plan proposes burying 21 feeders in Wards 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 during the first three years of construction
The Electric Company Infrastructure Improvement Financing Act of 2013 is enacted; authorizing the undergrounding of up to 60 of the District’s worst performing feeders.
The Mayor's Power Line Undergrounding Task Force is created to evaluate costs and benefits from undergrounding overhead power lines
Upset by the widespread outages caused by the derecho, D.C Council members, District residents, and Pepco begin discussions about burying power lines at a Council hearing.
What We Know: Triennial Plan
Suraj K. SazawalAdvocacy Associate
Source: The Washington Post
• 3 year proposal (2015-2017)• Identifies 21 feeders in Wards 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 to be buried• http://oca.dc.gov/page/dcplug
• Reliability – Reduced outages day
to day and during severe storms
• Other Benefits– Economic
– Forest Canopy
PEPCO: The Benefits of DC PLUG
Nathan McElroy, PepcoStaff Forester
DDOT: Tree Preservation and Vegetation Management
• District of Columbia vegetation management is the responsibility of different parties depending on the location of the tree:
– DDOT’s Urban Forestry Administration (UFA)
– Owners of private property
– National Park Service
– Pepco
• Pepco’s foresters and UFA have a strong working relationship
– Industry standards are followed for pruning and undergrounding efforts
– Any trenching work carefully considers the health of the tree root structure and seeks to employ techniques to preserve them
• Pepco has been named a Tree Line USA Utility by the National Arbor Day Foundation
– Recognizes utilities that demonstrate a program of quality tree care, annual tree worker training, public education, tree planting, and energy conservation through tree planting
DDOT: Tree Preservation and Vegetation Management
• A UFA certified arborist will be involved through the DC PLUG initiative
– Each design will be reviewed by an ISA-certified arborist during conceptual design and at 65% design completion
Casey Trees Public Comments
Maisie Hughes ASLA, ISA Certified Arborist Director, Advocacy
What we think about the plan:
• Burying all of the overhead lines is preferred, so that there will be no future conflicts with trees and overhead wires.
• Pruning for secondary overhead lines is less aggressive, so that is good news for street trees and their canopy. However, moving the secondary lines higher would decrease conflicts and allow greater canopy growth.
Casey Trees Public Comments
Maisie Hughes ASLA, ISA Certified Arborist Director, Advocacy
What we’d like to see in the plan:
• Underground the lines in the roadway to prevent the loss and/or damage to street trees.
• Determine the number of trees potentially impacted by this project AND develop a plan for rapid replacement of any trees lost during construction.
Suraj K. SazawalAdvocacy AssociateMaisie Hughes ASLA, ISA Certified Arborist
Director, Advocacy
What we think about the plan
Pruning for secondary wires is less aggressive
Suraj K. SazawalAdvocacy Associate
Pruning for secondary wires is less aggressive
Maisie Hughes ASLA, ISA Certified Arborist Director, Advocacy
What we think about the plan
What we’d like to see in the plan
Plan does not specify where the lines will be buriedRight-of-Way
Ro
adw
ay
Emily Oaksford, AICP, LEED APPlanning Associate
PEPCO: Tree Preservation and Vegetation Management
Scott Placide, PepcoEngineer
• Placing the transformer and switch manholes/vaults under the sidewalk:
– Allows ease of access during maintenance and emergency work
– Protects workers from vehicular traffic during access
– Avoids exposing the transformers to substances and chemicals, such as salt, used to treat roads during the winter seasons
• We must abide by minimum separation requirements from other utilities which are already located in the roadway
Undergrounding near mature trees could be devastating
What we’d like to see in the plan
Our Estimates:
• 163 miles of feeder lines
• 17,000+ trees along proposed routes
• 8,700+ street trees could be affected during construction
The number of trees located
along these proposed routes
Emily Oaksford, AICP, LEED APPlanning Associate
What we’d like to see in the plan
HILLCREST
Emily Oaksford, AICP, LEED AP Planning Associate
The number of trees located
along these proposed routes
What we’d like to see in the plan
Our Estimates:
• 430+ trees within the Hillcrest neighborhood
• 1,530+ trees within Ward 7
A preference to bury the wires under the roadway
Bury primary lines
HERE!
Right-of-Way
Emily Oaksford, AICP, LEED APPlanning Associate
What we’d like to see in the plan
A plan for rapid replacement of any trees lost
Emily Oaksford, AICP, LEED APPlanning Associate
What we’d like to see in the plan
Casey Trees Public Comments
Maisie Hughes ASLA, ISA Certified Arborist Director, Advocacy
What we’d like to see in the plan:
• Underground the lines in the roadway
• Determine the number of trees potentially impacted
• Develop a plan for rapid replacement
More Information about DC PLUG
Casey Trees’ Public Comments: http://caseytrees.org/programs/policyadvocacy/comments/
D.C.’s Public Service Commission: http://www.dcpsc.org/esr/Pepco_DDOT_ApplicationApproval_FC1116.asp
D.C.’s Office of People’s Counsel: http://www.opc-dc.gov/
Questions?
All questions should be submitted via the question box on the GoToWebinar panel.