Storage Facility Watsonville
We are here for you!
This Storage facility will help our community be less dependent of trucked in goods. Transporting Propane by train is the safest way to get it here. By supporting the century old rail system we will be reusing our existing infrastructure for freight and reducing the fossil fuels used to truck in Propane as it is done today.
Thousands of rural residents of our community use propane every day for heating their homes, cooking, water heating, drying clothes, and emergency generator backup power.
Agriculture depends on propane to manage weeds and pests, power heavy equipment, tractors, generators, and pumps.
Propane’s low-carbon, high-energy output makes it a perfect fuel for vehicle fleets, agriculture, shipping, industrial work and landscape management.
Bio-PROPANE
In the future this storage facility will be used for Bio-Propane as soon as it becomes commercially viable.
Storage Facility Sustainability
We have taken into account the impact the construction of this facility will have on the environment through multiple professional studies and the inherent condition of this previously developed site. This site was determined as the best location for the safe and secure propane facility for a number of reasons.
1.) Industrial Zoning: This site is already zoned as industrial by the City of Watsonville General Plan. Please see the "Land Use Diagram" at this URL https://www.cityofwatsonville.org/DocumentCenter/View/106/2005-General-Plan-Land-Use-Diagram-
2.) Existing Railroad Infrastructure: The selection of a site that connects to pre-existing infrastructure plays an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the number of trucks needed to bring the essential gas to our community. This site is connected to a railroad and will allow us to use the existing local rail lines to receive propane via train rather than truck it all in as is done today. Transportation on train cars is safer than truck.
3.) Contribute to community street life: This site is along the proposed rail trail and will enhance the safety of the path by adding security cameras, and the presence of intermittent personnel. Both of which will help observe activity along the nearby path. This Site will have open spaces allowing personnel to see and hear nearby activities when they use the facility. Pedestrian paths encourage people to walk or bike instead of drive, not only helping to reduce air pollution, but also promoting physical activity.
4.) No negative impact on traffic: The third party studies that have been conducted show that there will be no negative impact on traffic of commutes.
5.) What species are affected? The City of Watsonville has commissioned several studies of the site and have found that no species will be in danger from this development.
6.) Re-purposing a site that is difficult for any other use: This storage transfer facility is perfect for the reclaimed site because there will be few occupants and propane evaporates into the air as a nontoxic gas and will never contaminate the soil in the unlikely event of any leakage.
8.) No Water Supply Watersheds: According to the Santa Cruz County GIS This site is not part of a water supply watershed or Ground Water Recharge zone. It is also NOT considered a Riparian, Woodlands, or Grasslands area. Which makes it inherently a better place for the essential storage of much needed propane in our area. Propane vaporizes and dissipates when released into the air. This unique characteristic means it cannot contaminate groundwater, drinking water, marine ecosystems or sensitive habitat if released.
click here for great facts and information about propane myths from Propane Education & Resource Council (PERC) at propane.com
How are we improving the sustainability of Site?
There are three principles of sustainability: Environmental, Social, and economical. This project addresses each of these components of sustainability:
ENVIRONMENTAL
1.) Rainwater Collection: We are adding cisterns to collect rainwater from the site and use for irrigation. There will be a collection area and 3 burred cisterns that collect and hold the water for irrigation. adapt to the effects of climate change
2.) Adding landscaping: We are improving the site visually and environmentally by adding drought resistant landscaping that will be exclusively irrigated by the onsite rainwater collection system once the plantings have been established. this will not only make the site more beautiful but also help reduce the heat island effect.
3.) Reducing pavement and Impermeable/impervious surfaces: We are removing significant asphalt and creating more Permeable surfaces that allow water to percolate into the soil to filter out pollutants naturally. Propane does not go down into the earth, it is a nontoxic gas and evaporates into the air in the unlikely event of any kind of leakage.
4.) Previously developed land: because the site has been previously developed there is no disruption to sensitive habitats or natural environments. The project has no buildings and a smaller carbon footprint than building complexes and other conventional forms of development that have large carbon footprints during construction and operation.
SOCIAL
Pedestrian paths and bicycle lanes encourage people to walk or bike instead of drive, not only helping to reduce air pollution, but also promoting physical activity. PRESERVATION OF THE RAIL LINES Increased freight rail service is one of the top ways to contribute to preserving Santa Cruz County rail lines and finding new ways to reduce both vehicle travel and greenhouse gas emissions. Contributing to the preservation of the rail lines by increasing the movement of goods can help our community advance sustainable transportation options, reduce traffic and sprawl and preserve open areas and agricultural spaces as is described on the SCCRTC website. The storage Facility Project will have drought tolerant trees and shrubs along the boarding edge of the Watsonville Rail Trail irrigated by onsite captured rainwater. This will increase the visual attractiveness and sustainability of the site.
ECONOMICAL
Mountain Propane Service is a locally owned and operated family business. Our owner and employees live within the community and do everything they can to help our local industries and residents prosper and grow safely for future generations.
We are here to help the Santa Cruz Mountains get back on their feet after the CZU Lightning Complex fires by providing propane for generators and construction during rebuilding and after for household necessities.
Local Self Reliance
Having more than one source of energy and power in our community makes us stronger and gives us Local Self Reliance for times of emergency and natural disasters.
