Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
A Public Scoping Meeting Will Take Place November 30
By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has proposed a substation in the Marquez area and is seeking input from interested members of the public and agencies—reintroducing a project that dates back decades.
LADWP recently acknowledged the need to supplement the existing power Distributing Station 29, which is located at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Via De La Paz, and has served Pacific Palisades since 1936.
“The capacity of DS-29 has been expanded over the years by adding equipment and doubling its original size, and by installing several pole top distributing stations within the Pacific Palisades community,” according to LADWP. “These improvements … have increased the capability of DS-29 to its maximum extent, and any further expansion of the distributing station is no longer feasible due to space constraints and the limits of available equipment.”
LADWP said the proposed project—Distributing Station 104—is now “needed,” due to an increase in power demand.
“The Pacific Palisades community has contributed to this increase in power demand especially through residential electric vehicle charging,” DWP stated. “DS-104 will allow for the continued reliable delivery of power to retail customers and will prevent blackouts from occurring especially during periods of elevated power consumption.”
The proposed project site is an LADWP-owned property just west of Marquez Charter Elementary School, located at 16931 Marquez Avenue.
The proposed Distributing Station 104 would consist of a control room, restroom, transformers, circuit breakers and additional associated equipment, all enclosed within the station. The project would include vehicle access and parking, and would occupy approximately one acre of the two-acre property.
According to LADWP, the design would be prepared with the intent to “ensure compatibility,” taking noise and aesthetics into account. If approved, construction would begin in fall 2024 and continue for 42 months.
LADWP is currently launching the environmental review process for construction of the substation, which includes the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report.
“Under the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, there will be several opportunities for public input throughout the environmental review process,” LADWP Spokesperson Deborah Hong said to the Palisadian-Post. “The first step in the process has begun with the Notice of Preparation, which was distributed by mail to the public. We are in the early stages of the environmental review process, and the public is encouraged to submit comments on the scope and content of the proposed project.”
LADWP invited members of the public to submit comments concerning issues to be analyzed in the EIR. Written comments can be submitted via email to ds104.ceqa@ladwp.com. LADWP will also conduct a virtual Scoping Meeting to share additional details of the project.
The meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 30, at 6:30 p.m. To tune in, visit ow.ly/7h5t50lx1bh.
For more information, visit ladwp.com/ds104.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
