City Council Puts Fiber Optic Plan in Crosshairs

Renewable energy use, purchasing natural gas and creating a "Fiber Optic Fund" were just a few of the tasks on the Utilities Advisory Commission’s extensive efficiency plan presented to an inquisitive Palo Alto City Council Monday night.

The council approved the Gas Utility Long-Term Plan (GULP) and the Long-Term Electric Acquisition Plan (LEAP) in March and is now focusing on the Utilities Strategic Plan.

Councilman  Larry Klein began the debate, asking if any action was planned to reach the first goal of energy efficiency.

“With respect to the first item, are we considering ways to get to carbon neutrality?” he said.

Members of the UAC responded ambiguously, stating that the commission has given some thought to the plan. Utilities Director Valerie Fong added that more specific information would be provided at the next meeting.

“This will be further discussed at the Utilities Advisory Commission, in terms of what the goals shall be before it returns back to the council, but that’s certainly the intent going forward, and it’s part of our long-term electric acquisition plan,” Fong said.

Councilwoman Nancy Shepherd shifted the discussion toward economics, referring to the costly intended to extend the existing fiber optic backbone network as stated in the plan.

“The Fiber Optic Fund is going to be entirely too expensive to bring into the home, because we live in an older community, and expenses would fall to the homeowner," she said. "It’s a big expense.”

Addressing the costs of the plan, Shepherd questioned whether the project is worth completing.

“I think we need to be really clear with our community about the time it’s actually going to be finished and whether or not this is the best use of our efforts and energies, especially now that it’s much more expensive to approve utilities underground,” she said.

Councilman Greg Schmid also questioned public investment in the plan, expressing concern about the utilities being used by private companies.

“On the undergrounding, we’re on the cusp of a real decision here,” Schmid said. “If AT&T just said go ahead in commercial areas, there’s a critical question of why residents in the city would be funding a commercial development. So, what’s in it for residents?”

According to UAC member Jonathan Foster, the report was compiled by members of the UAC as well as council liaisons.

Although most features in the plan were briefly explained throughout the meeting, members of the UAC maintained their position for each item and postponed additional information until their next appearance.

“Our staff looks forward to the July 20th discussion that we will have at the Utilities Advisory Commission on this subject,” Fong said.