Letter to the Editor – Proposed Hamilton Branch sale is not a surprise

Wow. Lassen News stated just this April the news Pacific Gas and Electric wants to sell the Hamilton Branch hydropower facilities was unexpected. Where have you all been?  PG&E has not operated that facility for three years. Now, I personally questioned PG&E three years ago, and they proclaimed the facility at Hamilton Branch “is not economically feasible to operate.”

Nobody from PG&E is willing to state why after 75 years it is no longer economically feasible to operate this facility, but I suspect it has more to do with the state of California no longer considering hydro electric as a renewable resource which means it no longer qualifies for tax credits and government funding.

Keep this in mind the next time your rates are raised and you’re told to conserve power or (when) you’re involved in the next blackout.

Dave Hoifjeld

Hamilton Brancch