RESOLUTION NO. _______
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FREMONT
DECLARING ITS INTENT TO GRANT A NONEXCLUSIVE ELECTRIC
FRANCHISE TO LS POWER GRID CALIFORNIA LLC., SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR APRIL 7, 2026, AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO
PUBLISH NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Fremont is authorized to grant electric utility franchises pursuant to the procedure established by the California Franchise Act of 1937, Public Utilities Code Section 6201 et seq.; and
WHEREAS, LS Power Grid California, LLC (the “Applicant”), has submitted an application to the City Council for a non-exclusive, 10-year electric franchise to install, construct, maintain and operate underground pipes and transmission facilities and appurtenances, to transmit high-voltage electricity and provide electric interconnections, within the City of Fremont’s (“City”) public rights-of-way; and
WHEREAS, the Applicant has been selected by the California Independent System Operator (“CAISCO”) (a non-profit public benefit corporation that operates a competitive wholesale electricity market and manages the majority of California’s wholesale electric power grid), to develop, construct, and operate two high-voltage direct current transmission line projects to improve electric reliability in the South Bay and integrate renewable energy into the grid - the “Power the South Bay Project” and the “Power Santa Clara Valley Project”; and
WHEREAS, the Applicant’s franchise application is part of the Power the South Bay Project approved by CAISO and will result in infrastructure upgrades that are essential for ensuring a reliable and sufficient electricity supply for the City and the South Bay, especially as the City transitions toward renewable energy sources and aims to meet its goals under Climate Ready Fremont and other environmental and resiliency policies; and
WHEREAS, construction of the project will take place in the City’s area of Boyce Road south of Weber Road, Cushing Parkway, and Fremont Boulevard south of Cushing Parkway, to the southern City limit, as shown in the Franchise Application included with the staff report; and
WHEREAS, Applicant has agreed to pay the required franchise fee for the duration of the franchise, to reimburse the City for costs incurred for application review, permit issuance, inspections and approvals, and to coordinate future joint projects with the City that support clean and renewable energy initiatives; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the application and finds it in the best interests of the City to consider granting said franchise.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Fremont, as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council hereby declares its intention to grant an electric franchise to Applicant LS Power Grid California, LLC to operate within the City for a term of 10 years for the purpose of transmitting electric service in the City’s public rights-of-way. A draft of the proposed franchise agreement will be on file with the City Clerk.
SECTION 2. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on April 7, 2026, at the hour of 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, in the City Council Chambers of the City of Fremont, City Hall – Building A, 3300 Capitol Avenue, Fremont, California, is fixed as the time and place for a public hearing to hear any protests or objections to the granting of the franchise.
SECTION 3. The City Clerk is hereby directed to give notice of the above-mentioned public hearing by publication pursuant to Sections 6232 and 6233 of the California Public Utilities Code.
ADOPTED ______________, by the City Council of the City of Fremont by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Clerk City Attorney