Enhanced Orchard Incentive Program

Mature orchards and safe, reliable power

California’s orchards are a vital part of our local economy, providing half of the fruit and nuts we consume every day. Together, we can help public safety and reduce the risk of power outages by proactively managing orchards beneath high voltage electric transmission lines.

Commercial orchards growing beneath high voltage electric transmission lines can pose one of the greatest risks to public safety and to the safe and reliable operation of the electric transmission system. Mature almond and walnut trees can quickly grow above the safe clearance distance and threaten public safety by interfering with high voltage power lines, causing catastrophic large-scale power outages.

To better meet our responsibility to public safety, and recognizing the increased value of your orchard, we have enhanced our existing Orchard Incentive Program. We will partner with orchard growers to identify trees beneath and around our electric transmission lines that pose a safety risk. Once those trees are identified, you will be provided an application form so you can apply for these available incentives.

Please read on to learn more

Working together to reach safe solutionsWe’re committed to working with growers to find solutions that meet their needs while protecting public safety and electric system reliability.

Over the past several years, PG&E has been working with growers to maintain the appropriate safety clearance distance between trees and our electric transmission lines. We have done this by asking growers to relocate newly planted walnut and almond trees away from transmission lines. To ensure safety clearances are being maintained—and to abide by federal and state laws—we have also created incentive programs to encourage growers to remove mature or newly planted walnut and almond trees from under transmission lines.

A financial incentive to proactively manage safety of your orchardsWe’re committed to finding solutions for necessary safety work that impacts our customers. We have developed an incentive program to help ensure public safety and provide financial incentives* to local growers for removing mature, incompatible commercial walnut and almond orchard trees.

*This incentive offer is available for a limited time on a first-come, first-served basis.

140 MORE THAN

growersHAVE RECEIVED

INCENTIVES

Here’s how it works:Incentive example for a Fresno County mature almond orchard:

$23,000Land valueValue per acre—appraised amount varies by county and type of orchard (Trends in agriculture)

$8,680 (124 trees)

Additional incentive$70 per tree removed for clean-up or stump removal—approximately an additional $7,000–$9,000 per acre

$31,680Total orchard incentiveRanges from $27,000 to more than $35,000 per acre of trees removed

The grower can use the incentive to replant crops that are compatible with electric transmission lines OR reinvest the funds according to their needs.

The impact of orchards under transmission linesTransmission power line heights are dynamic and can sag as close as 27 feet from the ground (depending upon electric load and weather conditions). Major electric system outages and safety issues have resulted specifically from walnut and almond trees, which can quickly grow as much as 12–20 feet in just a few months.

Safety Minimum Maximum clearance ground-to- allowable zone conductor tree height

clearance (27’)

Typically, trees in this area maintain a safe clearance dueto electric line height

Tower zone: Quarter zone: Belly zone: 50% of span length Graphic is not to scale12.5% of span 12.5% of span

We only need to remove trees that pose a safety concern, which are typically located near the belly zone of the lines.

There are a variety of crops that can be successfully grown under electric transmission lines. Compatible crops that can be planted under orchard transmission lines include row crops, vines and manually-harvested fruit trees.

Focusing on safetyWe want to work with you to ensure your mature walnut and almond orchards do not pose a risk to the safety of the public or your orchard workers. Let us partner together to find solutions that balance the need for the safety and reliability of the electric system that we all depend on, with the needs of your farm.

Contact Eumie Davis at 415-349-9970 or eumie.davis@pge.com to learn more about the incentive program.

“PG&E” refers to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. ©2015 Pacific Gas and Electric Company. All rights reserved. These offerings are funded by California utility customers and administered by PG&E under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. PG&E prints its materials with soy-based inks on recycled paper. June 2015 CCC-0615-3786