Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "pge"

Planning Commission approves new Powerhouse Science Center

2011-09-24T00:32:38Z

The city’s Planning Commission approved the use of 5.38 acres of land on the edge of the Sacramento River for the development of the Powerhouse Science Center – a project that will transform the historic Pacific Gas & Electric power station into a high-tech, hands-on, science museum.

The $50 million project was unanimously approved at the Planning Commission meeting Thursday.

The Powerhouse project, a design-build project by local firms Dreyfus & Blackford Architects and Otto Construction, will be a relocation and expansion of the existing Sacramento Discovery Museum Science and Space Center located on Auburn Boulevard.

“The new (science) center will provide clear ways for us to explore the wonders, the possibilities and the responsibilities of science,” Powerhouse Deputy Director Ray Burnell said Thursday.

The project begins with the rehabilitation of the historic PG&E power station and includes construction of a new earth and space sciences center and a new parking structure.

The original PG&E power station was a source of auxiliary power in the 1930’s. In the 1940’s and 1950’s, the building was used for test purposes and It was formally closed in 1954.

The new 81,000 square foot development will include exhibit space in the historic building, a new full-dome digital planetarium theater, classrooms and labs, a new NASA Challenger Learning Center, a vegetated roof, and a cafe. It will also have access from the American River Bike Trail.

“Not only are we going to energize the lifelong learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” Burnell said, “but we’re also going to be using this very special venue to empower the public to go global – to address science-based global issues that are locally relevant.”

Jason Silva, an architect and partner with Dreyfus & Blackford, said that soil issues at the site limit the ability to plant trees. In an effort to be as “green” as possible, the project design includes a novel solution: photovoltaic “trees.”

Photovoltaics is a way to generate electrical power by converting solar rays into direct current electricity.

The “trees” will be fashioned to hold multiple photovoltaic panels on supports that resemble abstract trees and will create shade and focal interest and produce energy, SIlva said.

“We’ve thought carefully about the design of the support for the (photovoltaic) panels,” Silva said, “because we want to make every element an integral part of the whole setting.”

The initial concept and design for the Powerhouse Science Center came from Silva and has been in the works since 2007.

“This project is for the region,” Silva said Friday. “There are many opportunities to include a wide range of programs and amenities. We want to to get as much value out of this project as we can.”

In addition to Silva, Dreyfus & Blackford has three others on staff working on refining the design as the project moves forward, Silva said, along with a variety of consultants in specialized areas such as acoustics, mechanical, electrical and geo-tech engineering.

“The biggest challenge so far has been bringing together a consensus of all the interests in the process,” Silva said. “(The project) affects and benefits many different parties.”

Silva said he wants to address the interests of the education and teaching communities, the business community and the needs of the visiting public whom he hopes will see the new Powerhouse Science center as “a destination venue.”

“This is an opportunity to serve the needs of all the public – from tourists to school children to residents to science lovers,” Silva said. “Everyone.”

According to the Powerhouse website, the entire project is expected to cost $50 million. The first $7 million came from Proposition 84, a 2006 bond measure for water quality projects, including public access to natural resources.

The remainder of funding will come from a variety of sources including donor funding, grants and private investment financing, Silva said. There are no tax dollars involved in the project.

Planning Commission members reviewed the overall concept of the project Thursday, along with artists renderings of the completed project and site plans before voting unanimously to approve the land use for the project.

Because the project involves rehabilitating an historic landmark, the design of the project will be heard by the Historic Preservation Commission for review on Oct. 5.

Silva said that, once the project is fully approved, construction is slated to begin in spring 2012. Construction is expected to take close to 18 months and should be ready for visitors in 2013.

Melissa Corker is a Staff Reporter for The Sacramento Press. Fo9llow her onTwitter @MelissaCorker.

Gassy Downtown

2010-10-21T05:16:31Z

Gas rises from a hole where construction crews accidentally damaged two gas lines at T & 6th Streets this afternoon just south of Downtown Sacramento while digging to install storm drain lines.

Sacramento Fire Department responded as a level Two Hazmat and up to fifteen homes and one business were evacuated. Evacuations and street closures extended up to one block in all directions of the gas leak while PG & E worked to turn off the leaking gas. Once PG & E arrived on scene, it took over two hours for the leak to be stopped and residents allowed back into their homes.

There were no firefighter or civilian injuries and all evacuated residents were allowed back into their homes by 5:45pm. Up to fifteen gas meters south of the incident and several others from 6th to 3rd street will be without gas until the pipe can be repaired and gas flow restored.

Photo | Kati Garner, Maverick Photographers

For more photos of the scene, please visit:

http://sacmav.com/photos /?picasaViewAlbumId=News_20101020_SacMavOnSceneUneditedDirectUpload%2C0

Science center folks pursue $7m grant

2010-09-30T01:57:16Z

Sacramento's Discovery Museum and its partners could use the community's help as they vie for $7 million in state grants to build the Powerhouse Science Center, supporters said Wednesday.

Fundraisers working on behalf of the museum and Carson Development Co. are asking Sacramentans to write letters to California State Parks supporting an application for the single biggest chunk of public money being sought for the $50 million project. The city of Sacramento and PG&E are partnering on the project.

The $7 million would be used to build an earth, science and space center with a planetarium dome, which may be the first phase of construction.

The money was applied for under California Proposition 84, the Safe Drinking Water Bond Act. In 2006, voters set aside $93 million in nature education facilities grants for public nonprofits. California State Parks’ Nature Education Facilities Program administers the funds.

"Seven million dollars is in the pipeline if we get enough regional support," said Tobey Oxholm, graduate center dean for Drexel University in Sacramento, one of about 30 founding sponsors for the project.

Nearly 70 people joined Oxholm, Mayor Kevin Johnson, City Councilman Ray Tretheway, PG&E governmental relations consultant Brian Jensen, and Warren Smith, co-chair of the project's steering committee, for the morning press conference at Robert T. Matsui Waterfront Park, near the vacant 99-year-old PG&E power station on Jibboom Street. The new science center is planned to be built there once the building is renovated.

Behind the historic building, linemen working for a PG&E contractor worked to dismantle two transmission towers that had been idle for 60 years, along with electric power transmission lines, after the power station stopped operating in 1954.

Two linemen climbed to the top of a 220-foot tower during the press conference. They later removed transmission line insulators. With help from a 90-ton crane, guy wires were cut, and the tower was dismantled in 40-foot sections. The electrical lines had been removed earlier.

Several other towers had been removed from the other side of I-5 over the last three weeks, Jensen said. PG&E footed the $850,000 cost for the work, which readies the site for construction.

California State Parks' Nature Education Facilities Program has gotten more than 300 applications seeking nearly $1 billion from throughout the state. Grant awards were initially expected to be announced in December, but are now expected to be made in February or March, said Sandy Berry, program lead.

The projects are scored on criteria established in guidelines, said Patti Keating, head of the Office of Grants and Local Services with California State Parks.

A significant grant like that would also help raise federal and local funding, said Michele Wong, Discovery Museum board president and co-chair of the project's steering committee.

The site is planned to also hold river-view restaurants, a conference center, a small amphitheater and open park space next to the Sacramento River.

The group has raised $2.2 million in private and local funding, which has gone toward $3 million in pre-construction costs.

Lobbyists are helping to raise other funding. The plan is to raise $10 million each from federal, state and local coffers, plus $20 million in private donations. Funding sources change constantly, she said.

The recession has slowed the capital campaign. Discovery museum officials and supporters hope to break ground in late 2011 or early 2012. The first facility is expected to be open in late 2013 or early 2014, Smith said.

Graphics courtesy of the Discovery Museum. Photos by Suzanne Hurt, a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

K Street Projects Will Be Heard at Preservation Commission

2010-04-07T04:55:45Z

On Wednesday, April 7 at 5:30 PM, Sacramento's Preservation Commission will meet at City Hall, 915 I Street, in the main council chambers. In addition to other agenda items, they will hear staff reports and provide direction regarding the four projects proposed for the 700 and 800 blocks of K Street.

Due to changes in the way the Preservation Commission reviews projects, and due to the relatively low number of hearings in recent months, the Preservation Commission does not meet every month. The April 7 meeting will be the first held in 2010; the others were canceled because there were no scheduled hearings.

The general public first viewed the projects proposed for the 700/800 blocks of K Street on March 22: one by D&S Development and CFY Properties, one by David Taylor, CIM and Joe Zeiden, one by John Saca, John Bagatelos and Bridge Housing, and one by Rubicon Partners, St. Anton Partners and Preferred Capitol Advisors. The Preservation Commission will add their review and comment, since the properties in the project area include several historic landmark buildings, in addition to some potentially historic buildings not currently on the city register. Several of the proposals also involve other historic buildings not in the project areas.

Other projects to be reviewed at the Preservation Commission include a presentation about the Powerhouse Science Center, a museum planned for a riverfront site and another historic buildng, the old PG&E powerhouse, and a plan for structural and life safety upgrade to the Sacramento Valley Station, another Sacramento landmark, as part of the overall rehab and expansion of the intermodal depot.

In addition to these projects, the Preservation Commission will discuss policy. The Minimum Maintenance Sub-Committee, which deals with how the city addresses historic properties allowed to fall into disrepair, will provide a report. The Historic/Cultural Resources Survey Committee will report on historic building surveys performed for the city, some of which could result in new historic districts. There will also be opportunity for the public to comment on each of these projects and policy items, and to present items not on the agenda.

The full agenda can be found here:

www.cityofsacramento.org/dsd/meetings/commissions/preservation/2010/pc_agenda_4-07-10.cfm

City of Sacramento Preservation Commission April Meeting

Wednesday April 7

New City Hall
915 I Street- 1st Floor, Council Chambers
April 7, 2010- 5:30 P.M.

William Burg is a board member of the Sacramento Old City Association

Black Expo inspires Sacramento to go green

2010-02-22T04:59:47Z

As someone who enjoys fun and festive community events, I am more than happy to report on one of the best events in the area that took place over the weekend, the Black Expo. This was my second visit to the annual expo, which is held during Black History Month and provides a means of networking and showcasing the best of black business and culture.

I was eager to see what had changed between last year and this. I heard from some who can remember the expo's past, and it is heartening to learn that it has come a long way since it began 14 years ago.

No longer an obscure event with little fanfare or sponsorship, the Black Expo welcomed thousands of people over the weekend. More than 100 sponsors, exhibitors and vendors participated in the expo at the Convention Center, with its theme "Tapping our Green Power." The goal was to educate and call upon Sacramento’s black community to become more engaged in green technologies and resources, said Cheryl Brownlee, consultant and expo committee member.

“Each year we are trying to find ways to better inform our community about what’s happening, and this is our 14th year of doing this event, so we wanted to reflect what is happening in the future and green technologies reflect that,” said Brownlee. Companies such as SMUD, PG&E, Regional Transit, Caltrans, Los Rios Community College District, and General Mills are among major sponsors of this year’s expo.

“We feel it’s important to be here to increase our diversity efforts and give back to the community," said Holly Brown, Membership Representative of Schools Financial Credit Union in Sacramento. Those efforts toward environmentally friendly energy use are meant to accelerate the understanding of African Americans and others should have about the importance of a green-oriented economy.

The green theme was obvious from the displays in the exhibit hall as well as the countless Black Expo “Tapping Our Green Power” bags on people's arms. What representatives of the expo such as Brownlee want people to know is that the need for more information and a change in environmental policies, investments and funding sources is essential. Such changes, she emphasized, will lead to more jobs and a better economy for everyone.

However, not everything at the expo was about going green. Some highlights: a keynote address by Susan Taylor, the National CARES Mentoring Movement founder and editor-in-chief emeritus of Essence Magazine; the Glory Awards, which honored several spiritual leaders for outstanding service; a community breakfast for leaders under the age of 30; and the Stars of Tomorrow talent show. The weekend’s events also included business and job workshops, kids and crafts activities, and a gospel program on Sunday.

And most important, what is a good community event without good food? There were several options, including Minnie’s Cornbread House, El Shaddai Liberian food, G-Dubbs Barbeque and Healthy Eats. The food lines were never short but kept moving, making for easy sampling of tasty dishes.

Those who missed this year's Black Expo should plan to attend next year's. It's a thought-provoking and community-building event.

South Oak Park home explodes

2010-02-07T13:19:47Z

An unoccupied South Oak Park home explodes Sunday morning and the cause is under investigation.

An unoccupied home in the South Oak Park area exploded early Sunday morning. Debris from the home blew all the way out to the street. The home was a total loss and while the cause is under investigation, natural gas has not been ruled out. Per Sac City Fire, the home was a total loss and no one was injured.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW SCENE VIDEO

Visit us at Maverick Photography and SacMav for the action news the News misses

Science museum seeks seed money

2009-10-28T03:51:56Z

The Powerhouse Science Center is looking for a few good founding partners.

The Discovery Museum is trying to recruit private investors who can provide seed money to help build a $50 million "iconic" riverfront science and space museum hoped to rival some of the nation's biggest science museums.

The new, expanded museum is being developed to provide adventurous, hands-on science and math education to boost kids' interest in the subjects and to help draw high-tech companies — while launching the kind of serious waterfront development that's been talked about for at least three decades, museum supporters said Tuesday.

The four-acre campus would contain a museum built in the long-vacant Pacific Gas & Electric power station, a planetarium, river-view restaurants, conference center and small amphitheater within Robert T. Matsui Waterfront Park, north of Old Sacramento.

The project could be one of the best investments for the future of the city, region and beyond, said Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson.

"This center can become the place where our very youngest Sacramentans get excited and enthused about math and science," he said.

A capital campaign stalled by the recession has pushed an opening date to fall 2013.

At a breakfast presentation Tuesday morning, Discovery Museum Board President Michele Wong asked investors, including developers and representatives from banks and high-tech companies, to each contribute $25,000 as founding partners "to keep this project going forward."

The campaign needs $600,000 in cash within the next three months to stay on schedule and continue pursuing $30 million from federal, state and local public funding sources, she said.

"We started a traditional capital campaign three years ago. Then the floor fell out of the economy, and we realized a traditional campaign wouldn't work," she said.

The museum will resume its pursuit of $20 million in private investments after the economy improves, Wong said. Construction is expected to begin late next year and be completed in about three years.

Studies have shown that science centers like these raise students' math and science scores. Sacramento teachers have told staff that museum field trips increased their students' interest and hard work in the subjects for the rest of the year. Former students returned to say the Discovery Museum influenced them to go into science in college and careers, said Catherine Gray, director of the museum's Challenger Learning Center.

The Challenger Learning Center, designed with NASA, uses space flight to encourage students to study and use math, science, language arts and technology. Six weeks of learning in the classroom is rewarded and reinforced with a "mission" involving "mission control" and a simulated rocket.

"It's really great to see how they change from being a kid to an astronaut with a job to do," Gray said. "They have no idea they're doing their schoolwork for the morning."

The Discovery Museum, 3615 Auburn Blvd., focuses largely on school groups, whose students make up 50,000 out of 80,000 annual visitors. The 4,000-square-foot museum, which has room for one major exhibit at a time, isn't open to anyone but students every morning, and only three groups can be accommodated at a time.

While the Discovery Museum offers programs and attractions for families and adults, the size of the four-story Powerhouse Science Center will enable the museum to triple the number of visitors each year. The center will have exhibits on the human body, the world and space.

Another building will house restaurants and an education center where traveling exhibits from museums like the Smithsonian Institution will be displayed. A conference center is planned to serve as a gathering place for teachers and people working in science and technology.

"We know there's a lot more we could be doing, but we lack the space to do it," Wong said.

The new museum will house a three-story rocket where boilers and turbines were once housed in the old power station's atrium. The rocket commemorates Aerojet's role in the U.S. space program.

"That's really Sacramento's connection to the moon," said Beth Callahan, the museum's development and marketing director.

The 150-seat planetarium will be twice the size of the existing planetarium and the building will contain a larger Challenger Center. The new basement will contain an expanded, indoor archaeological dig site, replacing an outdoor site. The dig site will consist of four dirt pits, each three feet deep, where students will dig for remnants of Native American civilizations, the Gold Rush era, Chinese camps and the turn of the century.

A staff archaeologist will teach students how to do soil sampling and use the scientific method to uncover artifacts donated by other museums. Back at school, students will give oral presentations on the artifacts, she said.

"It's so important that we can give these kids practical knowledge," said Stacey McKinley, who chairs the museum's government committee. "They really have to put their hands in it. Then they'll believe in it and fight for it."

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Former Refugee Family Achieves the Dream of American Home Ownership

2009-08-29T14:27:44Z

Saturday, August 29, at 10 a.m. Sacramento Habitat for Humanity and Sacramento community members will gather to dedicate the Thor family home at 2954 Connie Drive in Sacramento. The Thor family has put in 500 hours of sweat equity alongside community volunteers and other Habitat families. The Thor family home was made possible by a $75,000 sponsorship from the California State Employees Charitable Campaign. This simple, decent home includes environmentally friendly, money saving solar panels thanks to a grant from PG&E.

Habitat for Humanity serves families earning 30 percent – 50 percent of the Sacramento County area median income. According to the 2000 US Census Bureau, in Sacramento County there are more than 30,000 families in this income range who are also living in overcrowded or sub-standard conditions. The typical Habitat partner family’s annual income ranges from $22,000 – $36,000 for a family of four. Since 1985, Sacramento Habitat for Humanity has changed lives by providing families with decent, affordable housing in a safe environment to grow and thrive.

“Life is better here for our children, they have education, a home and freedom,” said Julie Thor, homeowner. Peter Thor works for Alamo Rental Car and his wife Julie works at Marshall Adult School assisting other refugees in finding jobs.

The close knit Thor family consists of two parents, six sons, one daughter and an Aunt. This family of 10 currently lives in an overcrowded 2 bedroom, 1 bath home in Oak Park. Peter and Julie Thor were both born in Laos to farming families and both of their fathers were recruited by the CIA to fight on behalf of the United States during the Vietnam War. When the war ended their parents were in fear of retaliation by the reigning government, and moved into refugee camps in Thailand. Peter and Julie were children when they arrived in the camps and lived there for over 13 years. They met in the refugee camp, got married and had their first three children there before immigrating to the United States 12 years ago.

“The Thor home brings us close to the 200th home completed for our Sacramento affiliate,” said Ken Cross, CEO of Sacramento Habitat for Humanity. Although we are proud of this accomplishment, it is not about how many homes we build, our mission is about keeping hope alive and fulfilling the dream of homeownership for low income families.”

About Sacramento Habitat for Humanity
Established in 1985, Sacramento Habitat for Humanity (SHfH) is a 501c3 non profit local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. SHfH’s mission is to build decent affordable homes in partnership with families in need, supported locally by volunteers, faith based-organizations, individual donors and corporations for the betterment of our community.

Air Jordans

2009-03-17T05:25:16Z

Random hanging pairs of shoes on power lines has always been a source of confusion for me. I attempted to solve this mystery by calling the Sacramento Police Department, PG&E and SMUD.

According to Sgt. Darrell Martin, the hanging shoes are not a sign of gang activity, at least not from local gangs.

Brian Swanson, spokesperson for PG&E, told me that the hanging shoes could cause two major problems:

1. The shoes can weigh the wires down which can impact traffic. Tall trucks such as garbage trucks may snag the wires and cause power outages.

2. The shoes can also bring the two wires together which can short circuit the wires and cause damage to the electrical equipment on power poles, such as transformers and circuit breakers.

The worst case scenario, according to Swanson, would be if energized wires were brought to the ground because of the shoes.

Swanson advises that if anyone sees a safety issue — including a pair of hanging shoes that cause a wire to hang lower than normal or bring two wires together — they should report the problem to PG&E by calling 1-800-743-5000.

The SMUD representative could not be reached by the time the article went to press.

Does anyone else know the reasoning behind why people throw pairs of shoes on power lines? Has anyone done this personally? Can you refer me to anyone else who might know the answer to my longstanding question?

The pictures above were taken by laverrue and Dave Gorman.