TABLE OF CONTENTS
There will always be outside influences whose interests can affect Chino Hills in a negative manner. It is our responsibility, as a community, to follow and understand these kinds of issues because they can affect our lifestyle and our community. Problems (for our community) can come from Federal interests, State or County interests, regional government organizations, corporate interests, airport and transportation authorities, almost from anywhere. The most recent issue is the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project.
EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON?
Pressure has been mounting on power companies for years to reduce pollution. A few high court rulings in 2007 have driven home the fact that power companies must get serious about those mandates (1.). Power companies, including Southern California Edison, have likely known for some time that they needed to plan for "green" alternatives to power production and are seeking ways to buy more power produced by wind turbines (2.). The TRTP, which would interconnect renewable wind energy to the existing electric system, would help meet two important state requirements concerning renewable resources. First, state law requires that at least 20 percent of the electricity SCE delivers to customers be produced by renewable sources by 2010. Second, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 caps California's greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by 2020.
Energy developers are planning new "wind farms" in an area of Kern County referred to as the "Tehachapi Wind Resource Area" that would help meet the demand for more renewable power. Although SCE does not have an ownership interest in any of the proposed wind farms, they are required to construct extensions of their transmission system to these proposed wind farms so that wind power can be delivered into the state's energy grid and to serve Southern California's overall growing demand for electricity.
The Tehachapi Wind Farm, already has about 5,000 wind turbines and is the second largest collection of wind generators in the world. They are operated by a dozen private companies, and collectively produce enough electricity to meet the residential needs of 350,000 people every year. By the way, with over 15,000 turbines in the state (7,000 at Altamont and 3,000 at San Gorgonio Pass, near Palm Springs), wind power in California makes up only about 1% of California's electricity.
HOW DOES THIS AFFECT CHINO HILLS?
Unfortunately, for as many as a few thousand residents, the TRTP is proposed to literally run right past their back yards and tower over their homes. Many of these home already have "rights of way" behind them that include existing power lines, but the power lines are inactive and only reach about 80 feet into the air. The TRTP, as planned will increase the size of those existing towers by three times and make them active. Many residents are fearful of the safety of these actions and certainly the planning for this "improvement" hasn't taken their needs or desires into consideration.
In May, 2007, a grass roots organization of Chino Hills residents called C.A.R.E. lobbied the City Council to oppose the Chino Hills route of these power lines. In response, the city allocated $650,000 dollars for consultation, opposition, and to create an "Alternative Plan" for the power transmission lines. The city's idea is to route the transmission lines and a sub-station through the Chino Hills State Park and through the a more rural portion of southern Chino Hills where no residents would be directly affected. The Alternative Plan is now being disputed by Chino Hills State Park (3.) officials and Hills For Everyone (4.), a nation conservancy action group based in Brea.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has responded to citizen's requests with several hearings and are considering the city's proposal. The next meeting will be held in Brea in response to the objections of the State Park.
CPUC Public Meeting on the TRTP Alternative Routes on January 17, 2008 -
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Brea Community Center
695 Madison Avenue (Madison Way)
Brea, CA 92821
Fortunately we have a city council that, for the most part, is sensitive to the needs of its citizens. They have taken a very proactive approach to the problem and without their help, it is unlikely that we could have created the Alternative Plan and effected its implementation. But now, citizen action is needed. Advocates for the State Parks are serious about opposing the Alternative Plan and are well funded. It is likely that they will show up in large numbers to oppose any plan that would affect the parks and their interests are far different than the interests of our residents. They have already tried to divide our citizens in comments to the local papers but this is an issue that requires us to stick together as a city. Here is what I suggest...
1. Most Important: Mark your calendars for January 17th, and show up to that meeting in Brea at 6:30 pm. We will need a lot of people there to make a difference.
2. Contact the CPUC to express A.) your dissatisfaction with the existing plan and how it affects Chino Hills, and B.) your support for the Chino Hills Alternative Plan. They have contracted with the Aspen Environmental Group to manage the process...
| By Mail: | CPUC/Angeles National Forest c/o Aspen Environmental Group 30423 Canwood Street, Suite 215 Agoura Hills, CA 91301 |
| By Email: | trtp@aspeneg.com |
| By Fax or Voice Mail: | 1 (888) 331 9897 |
3. Contact Assemblyman Bob Huff:
By Mail:
Assemblyman, 60th District;
Bob Huff,
23355 E. Golden Springs Dr.
Diamond Bar, CA 91765,
By Email:
Use Assemblymember Huff's Email Form.
Phone:
(909) 860-5560
By Fax:
(909) 860 5664
4. Contact State Senator Bob Margett:
By Mail:
Senator Bob Margett
2605 E. Foothill Blvd. No. A.
Glendora, CA 91741
By Email:
Use Senator Margett's Email Form.
Phone:
(626) 914 5046
By Fax:
(626) 914 8976
5. Contact SCE:
By Mail:
Jerry Silva
SCE Ontario Service Center
1351 East Francis Street,
Ontario, CA 91761
By Email:
Click here
Phone:
(909) 930-8495
6. Sign up for eNotify for the Tehachapi updates on the Chino Hills City Web site.
I would encourage you to contact each of the above. Keep in mind that the value of real estate in Chino Hills (your home whether you live under a power line or not) is also affected since this crosses so many private homes. We all have a stake in succeeding at getting the Chino Hills Alternative Plan approved.
REALLY SEEING AND UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECTS ON CHINO HILLS RESIDENTS
A while ago, I decided to study the proposals and to drive the route of the proposed power lines to see the effects on local residents and to compare them to the Chino Hills Alternative Plan. I wanted to see things for myself and to make sure I understood the impacts. Chino Hills' interest in the project is confined to SCE's proposed "Segment 8A" which consists of replacing an existing non-energized 220 kV transmission line with 500 kV double circuit structures along a route that comes out of Whittier into Chino Hills and then out of Chino Hills leading into Chino and Ontario. Chino Hills in in the direct path of this route and Segment 8A will run within 500 feet of over 1000 homes in the city.
The Old Tower Size Compared to The Proposed New Tower Size
Now look at any of the pictures along the side of this article and imagine the height of the towers being doubled behind those homes. It's easy to see that this is a problem for a lot of people here.
CITATIONS:
- Environmental Defense, et al. v. Duke Energy Corporation or Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency
- Understanding Wind Turbines
- Chino Hills State Park
- Hills for Everyone
REFERENCES:
and is not a part of nor affiliated with the City of Chino Hills.