The City Council is expected to vote Tuesday, Dec. 8 whether to amend the city’s current contract to truck excess methane gas from the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant through Peninsula neighborhoods. If the vote is passed, the city will use existing San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) fuel lines to move the gas — a solution that would remove volatile trucks from the equation. “It’s the right thing for the environment and it’s the right thing for the Point Loma community to get these trucks off the streets,” said District 2 Councilmember Kevin Faulconer. “This is a much better solution and it is one that the neighbors and I feel very strongly about,” he said. Faulconer has held weekly meetings with city staff, SDG&E officials and community members. He said he is excited to bring the issue before City Council. “It’s a great win for Point Lomans and it’s a great example of what you can do when you work closely with the community,” Faulconer said. The original project that involved trucking the gas was first presented to local planners in 2007. If the City Council votes down the alternative pipeline method, the city’s existing plan is to begin construction on the so-called Beneficial Use of Digester Gas project next spring, with the first trucks likely hitting the road this fall. Since being apprised of resident opposition to the city’s Beneficial Use of Digester Gas project, Faulconer has been persistent in pursuing an alternative to the trucking. Faulconer presented the alternative to use existing SDG&E fuel lines during a community forum Sept. 9. A feasibility study was then conducted by SDG&E last month to confirm the company could accommodate the transmission of the methane gas from the wastewater plant. “The resolution to put this in the existing underground pipeline is a huge win for our Point Loma neighbors and it would not have happened without strong community support,” Faulconer said. Faulconer learned of resident opposition in August that grew out of an effort by Homeowners for a Green and Safe Point Loma, a citizens group that has been vocal in opposing the city’s gas trucking option. Catalina Boulevard resident John Pedersen spearheads this group. “I’m going to track this along with the neighbors to make sure it comes to fruition,” Faulconer said. Faulconer said he was unable to gauge the sentiment on the City Council but observers said strong opposition to the pipeline alternative is not likely.