California farm advocates have secured new communication requirements for a major PG&E transmission project cutting through agricultural land around Lodi, a provision they hope could become a model for other powerline projects across the state. CAFB attorney Karen Norene Mills told the commission the framework “should be a part of any transmission project” under CPUC oversight. The organization has been coordinating with the San Joaquin Farm Bureau on the project since 2016 and said agricultural land will shoulder much of the construction impact. PG&E says the project is needed to address transmission capacity and reliability problems identified by the California Independent System Operator and accommodate growing electricity demand. The utility estimates the upgrades would improve reliability and capacity for about 38,000 PG&E and Lodi Electric Utility customers.