This is a view from the southeast of one of the three alternate locations of the E2 Substation proposed as part of the 140 mile east corridor of the Central California Clean Energy Transmission Project. The substation will be built in the clearing in the foreground. The buildings are part of the old Anderson Place, previously the Burrough Place. The utility tower and lines in the background are part of the Helms-Gregg line, which runs from the Gregg Substation on Highway 99 north of Fresno to the Helms Project, a pump-storage plant at Wishon Reservoir in the High Sierra.In our opinion as residents of Watts Valley and other areas along the Helms-Gregg line, we made our sacrifice when the H-G line was built about 30 years ago. But now because of increased demand for electricity in the San Joaquin Valley, we are being forced once again to sacrifice.
In our opinion, too much of the Sierra wilderness has already been sacrificed for economic interests like the present one. In the past, there has always been yet one more reason for still one more sacrifice of wilderness to the demands of "progress." This has been true since the 19th century, when Central Sierra forests were clear-cut to build Fresno and other Valley cities, when the first hydro-electric projects required the destruction of High Sierra meadows and watersheds.
In our opinion, enough is enough, and we have had enough of being forced to serve the Valley's demands. Lest places like Watts Valley all be used up and ruined, it is time to significantly curtail development in the Sierra Nevada, and especially in the foothills, which have never been adequately protected. Besides, residents and land owners in the Sierras will see little benefit from the C3ETP, which is meant to meet demands in the San Joaquin Valley. In our opinion, if the Valley is to enjoy the benefits of this project, then the Valley should make the sacrifices.
Moreover, it may well be possible to avoid building the project anywhere. It is now becoming feasible for utilities to develop on-site generation through solar and solar thermal technology so that long-distance high-voltage transmissions are no longer necessary. Thus, it is no longer an either-or question of either building huge grid-connected projects like C3ETP or not having lights, air-conditioning, or electronic entertainment.
Furthermore, decentralized electrical generation and transmissions are also much less vulnerable to wide-spread outages and possible terrorist attacks.
It is time to develop new technologies which no longer require the costly human and environmental sacrifices necessary in the past.
What do you think?
4 comments:
Add another tier of lines to the exsiting power towers that go North along the Hayes Ave line west of Fresno.
Thank you, anonymous. That's a possibility. My feeling after studying this issue for 8 months is that PG&E and the government agencies should have involved the public from the start of the planning process. Communities should have been invited to sit down with the industry and government people to work out a plan where everyone has input. As it is, we were informed but learned quickly that we would not be allowed really to participate. Oh, CAISO has published our comments as a way of humoring us, but they have had no effect.
PG&E also treats it's employee's like crap. It and it's union breaking management would like to control the entire lives of everyone, employee's and customers alike and give little in return. Of course they jump at the chance for a PR opportunity and exploit the good will and labor of their employee's every chance they get. I've unfortunately invested 30 years of my life in this company and am ashamed of it's actions.
That about says it all, anonymous! My experience on the outside looking in confirms your statement. Our earliest experiences with the company representatives expressed company arrogance. One of the young rightofway agents told a neighbor that our property was slated for a 50 acre substation before we were told. The more experiences agents reflected the same arrogance as part of a tacit company policy. I have since come to an understanding that such an attitude may be more one of resignation and acquiesence so as to keep getting that good paycheck than a matter of belief. Sadly, we have come to a point in this society where people are often pitted against each other in the daily struggle to get ahead and stay afloat. Very sad.
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