Letter from California Public Utilities Commission to SoCalGas, August 20, 2021

This is the full text of the letter sent today, August 20, 2021 from Rachel Peterson, Executive Director of the California Public Utilities Commission to Scott Drury, Chief Executive Officer of Southern California Gas (SoCalGas). The original pdf of this letter can be downloaded here. Key lines of the letter have been bolded to highlight the instructions to halt further planning.

August 20, 2021 

VIA E-MAIL 

Scott Drury, Chief Executive Officer 

Southern California Gas Company 
555 West Fifth Street 
Los Angeles, CA 90013-1011 

SUBJECT: Ventura Compressor Station 

Dear Mr. Drury: 

Thank you for the Data Request 5 (DR-5) response submitted by Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) on August 6, 2021 and your letter of August 13, 2021. 

This letter memorializes SoCalGas’ commitment to meaningfully engage the public by more fully discussing SoCalGas’ plans for the Ventura Compressor Station in a public forum. This approach will increase community engagement and may lead to the incorporation of community interests into SoCalGas’ plans. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) also looks forward to reviewing a more detailed feasibility analysis of potential alternative sites and equipment configurations. 

While SoCalGas is performing more detailed feasibility analysis of alternative sites and configurations, the CPUC requests that SoCalGas halt further planning and procurement for the Ventura Compressor Station modernization project. Until SoCalGas completes all additional review that SoCalGas has committed to do in the DR-5 response, it would be premature to commit to costly purchases. 

To be clear, the CPUC expects SoCalGas to continue with soil remediation work as planned in accordance with the Department of Toxic Substances Control’s (DTSC) requirements.

Sincerely, Rachel Peterson
Executive Director

cc: President Marybel Batjer, CPUC
Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves, CPUC
Commissioner Clifford Rechtschaffen, CPUC
Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma, CPUC
Commissioner Darcie L. Houck, CPUC
Edward Randolph, Deputy Executive Director for Energy and Climate Policy, CPUC
Terrie Prosper, Director, News and Outreach Office, CPUC
Allison Brown, Public Advisor, CPUC
Senator Monique Limón, District 19
Assemblymember Steve Bennett, District 37
Meredith Williams, Executive Director, Department of Toxic Substances Control
Laki Tisopulos, Air Pollution Control Officer, Ventura County Air Pollution Control District
Sofia Rubalcava, Mayor, City of Ventura
Mike Johnson, Councilmember, City of Ventura
Service Lists to A.17-10-007/A.17-10-008, A.21-05-010, A.21-05-011, R.20-01-007