Memorandum
Date: October 6, 2026
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Eddie Crandell, District 3 Supervisor
Bruno Sabatier, District 2 Supervisor
Subject: (a) Consideration of Joining Save Lake Pillsbury Coalition Letter to National Energy Dominance Council, and Authorizing Supervisors Crandell and Sabatier to Sign; and (b) Consideration of a County of Lake Letter to the National Energy Dominance Council, and Authorizing all Five County Supervisors to Sign
Executive Summary:
(a) Our Board has long opposed Decommissioning of Scott Dam, noting Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) has not demonstrated the project can be accomplished safely. Despite strong and consistent opposition by the County, Lake and all affected County Farm Bureaus, Lake Pillsbury Alliance, and now the Save Lake Pillsbury Coalition, PG&E has suggested in public documents there is regional concurrence supporting Decommissioning. Central arguments of both Letters attached here oppose the idea this consensus has been reached.
Supervisor Sabatier and I find the argument there is opposition to Decommissioning will be strongest if it is made by the Save Lake Pillsbury Coalition, which includes the partners referenced above, by joining their Letter to the National Energy Dominance Council. The Letter does not endorse any specific alternative proposal, and includes robust citations for the fact claims presented; we extend our thanks to the members of the Coalition for their openness to making edits to their original draft to strongly align with our Boards’ position and previous statements.
Therefore, we ask that our Board authorize us (Supervisors Crandell and Sabatier) to sign the Coalition Letter. Previously, we asked that our Board’s August 2026 Letter to FERC be authorized for inclusion as an attachment; Board approval of its inclusion is not fully necessary, as the Letter is a public record, so that aspect has been withdrawn from this item.
(b) On September 22, 2026, members of our Board expressed interest in a distinct County of Lake Letter to the National Energy Dominance Council. This Letter presents arguments made to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other bodies, and our Legislative Delegation, to the Council, and emphasizes the urgent need to consider alternatives to PG&E’s proposal. This Letter asks that the National Energy Dominance Council join in fully supporting agencies interested in obtaining information from PG&E, California Water Boards, and others in order to craft quality alternative plans for the Potter Valley Project. It also asks that the Council put people and well-established animal habitat first, and save Lake Pillsbury.
Thank you for your consideration, and consistent support for the best possible decision-making surrounding the Potter Valley Project and Lake Pillsbury.
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Recommended Action: (a) Approve Joining Save Lake Pillsbury Coalition Letter to National Energy Dominance Council, and Authorize Supervisors Crandell and Sabatier to Sign; and (b) Approve the County of Lake Letter to the National Energy Dominance Council, and Authorize all Five County Supervisors to Sign.