CHINO HILLS --- The residents of Chino Hills today rallied against Southern California Edison's proposal to double in height the towers that carry power lines that have been active for 30 years or longer. The proposal would build new towers and power lines that will carry double circuit 500 kV transmission lines and place them through densely populated neighborhoods and near schools. This rally took place just after the city filed a lawsuit against Edison to protect its residents from Edison's proposal to route the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project power lines through densely populated Chino Hills' neighborhoods.
Mayor Pro Tern Bill Kruger announced that the basis of the lawsuit is that Southern California Edison does not have the legal right to place 198-foot transmission poles within a 150-foot right-of-way and over-burden the easement.
"We support bringing wind power to Southern California but we want it done safely and Edison's proposed route will put at risk thousands of residents and children," said Chino Hills Mayor Pro Tern W.C. "Bill" Kruger. "We will do everything possible to ensure the safety of our residents."
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Southern California Edison's proposed route would be the first of its kind in the nation. There has never been a 500kV transmission line placed in an earthquake susceptible area so close to residents and schools. There are seven active fault lines in the vicinity of Chino Hills with its most recent earthquake in July 2008. In addition a portion of the proposed line planned through Chino Hills is susceptible to landslides.
Even without these added risks, transmission towers do collapse. For example, in 2006 an Edison-installed 500kV tower collapsed due to high winds and in 1994, 18 Edison-installed towers collapsed during the Northridge earthquake. Currently, Edison proposes to place these towers as close as 50 feet to 500 feet from more than 1,000 homes, several schools and day care centers, and parks -- impacting over 3,000 residents and about 500 students ranging from toddlers to teenagers.
"We live in an active seismic area and it is a serious risk to the health and safety of our families to place 500,000 volt power lines with nearly 200 foot tall towers near our homes and schools. Safety must come first and we will continue to urge the California Public Utilities Commission to adopt the alternative route that the City of Chino Hills developed," said Jim Prindiville with CARE at today's rally. CARE (Chino Hills residents for Alternate Routing of Electricity) is a group of Chino Hills residents who are very concerned about the danger of Edison's proposed transmission route.
An internal survey commissioned by the City found that 85 percent of Chino Hills residents strongly preferred the alternative route that uses the existing lines that already traverse through Chino Hills State Park to Edison's proposed route which garnered only 6.6 percent support.
Chino Hills residents actively use Chino Hills State Park and do not believe the alternative route will significantly impact it and in fact the alternative solution actually reduces the impact of the existing lines in the park. The internal survey found that 82.4% of residents who visit the Chino Hills State Park regularly and 87.1 % of residents who live within one mile from the park favor the alternative route through the park.
"We support the goal of increasing alternative energy and believe the alternative route through Chino Hills Park is a win-win solution," said Mayor Pro Tern Kruger. "The alternative route will protect residents and their homes, use existing transmission lines and provide Chino Hills State Park with mitigation funding to restore and enhance it."
The proposal for the alternative route through Chino Hills State Park has identified mitigation funding that can be used to provide improvements to the Park including restoration of habitat, park improvements, a land purchase to connect the Park to the Prado Basin for wildlife migration, and provide an endowment for ongoing operations. The park was severely damaged by fire in November and the funding would help enhance and restore the park. (see attached fact sheet)
Both the City of Chino Hills and CARE have partnered to form the 21 5t Century Green Partnership (www.21stcenturygreen.net).
A Community Committed to the Responsible Delivery of Renewable Energy for California
FACT SHEET
Risks Associated with SeE's Proposed Transmission Line
Background
The Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project (TRTP) is a Southern California Edison (SCE) project to bring wind power to the Southern California region. As a part ofthe TRTP, Edison is proposing a transmission route through densely populated neighborhoods in the City of Chino Hills.
Dangerous and Unprecedented Proposal
There is no other example in the nation that has a SOOkV line in a seismically active densely residential community like the one proposed by SCE. The closest example is in Georgia where residents purchased property after the line was built and it does not have any known susceptibility to earthquakes or landslides. Also, there are approximately 200 houses there rather than more than 1000.
Vicinity of 7 Active Faults
* There are seven active faults within the vicinity of Chino Hills: Whittier, Elsinore, Chino, Central Avenue, San Jose, Sierra Madre and Cucamonga.
The most recent earthquake (5.4 on the Richter scale) was in July 2008.
Susceptible to Landslides
* A portion of the SCE proposed route through Chino Hills is susceptible to landslides, and about a quarter of the area identified as "most susceptible."
* "Most susceptible" is defined as being unstable and subject to failure even in the absence of activities by man.
High Potential for Liquefaction
* A portion of the SCE proposed route crosses through areas with a moderate to high potential for liquefaction.
Potential for Transmission Tower Collapse
There were two recent incidents where SCE transmission towers collapsed:
* Jan 1994: Collapse of 18 towers during the Northridge earthquake
* July 2006: Collapse of SOOkV Palo Verde-Devers SCE transmission towers due to high winds (80 mph).
Increased Risk for Angle Towers to Collapse into Families' Backyards
* There is a significant angle point along the proposed route through densely populated residential areas of Chino Hills (along the existing right of way where it crosses Peyton Road).
* Potential impact of a tower collapse is greater when towers are located at an angle because the high tension in the lines can pull debris from the collapsed towers towards the inside ofthe angle.
* This risk increases the higher the height of the towers because there is more distance to fall thus increasing the arc of where the lines pull out well into the backyards of several homes.
Safety & Health Risks to Children
The SCE proposed route would be as close as 50 feet to some homes. Over 1,000 homes with more than 3,000 residents - many of which include children - will be forced to live right within 500 feet of these lines. All of the neighborhoods, parks, schools, will, even by SCE's own admission, experience significant immitigable impact. Parents are frightened of the possible health risks associated with massive highly-charged lines.
According to a Professor who wrote the text book on electric transmission engineering, if one ofthese 500kV lines were to fall into a family's backyard, it would instantly kill anyone it touches and immediately start a fire if it landed on a home.
Nearly 500 Children Attend School or Day Care Next to the Proposed Route
* Loving Savior of the Hills, Lutheran Church & School
* Good Earth Montessori School & Day Care
* KinderCare Learning Center
* Sunshine Montessori
* Montessori School of Chino Hills
Harm to the Environment
* The SCE proposal will traverse the City's protected ridgeline.
