Edison plan for new substation, power poles not greeted warmly

Lights, refrigeration and other modern conveniences that use electricity are welcome, but a new substation and the tall, aboveground transmission lines Southern California Edison wants to build are not.

The Thousand Oaks City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 13 to submit a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission requesting a public hearing and an Environmental Impact Report on a proposed substation project on a 4-acre site on the south side of Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks with 3.5 miles of new power lines connected with 70foot poles.

Residents lined up at the council meeting, asking the city to join with them in trying to prevent the large, buzzing poles from being built near their homes or destroying their views. They also expressed concerns about potential health problems that could affect their children as well as the possible loss of property values.

Lines that currently run under the freeway would be hung 100 feet over the 23 Freeway, according to the proposal.

"The three cities and the county, to some extent, have worked so hard to underground and to provide visual security, aesthetic tranquility on a scenic highway and we're coming in now with 70-foot poles out in that very area where everyone else has worked and invested the money, which the homeowners out there paid for it, to make it attractive and safe," said Councilmember Dennis Gillette.

Scherr auditorium, where the council meets, erupted in applause and whistles after Gillette spoke.

Mayor Tom Glancy asked people to be respectful and not applaud during the meeting.

The city doesn't ultimately have land-use authority over this project. The Public Utilities Commission makes the decision whether or not to approve what's being called the presidential substation. Its proposed location is near the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

Resident Harvey Cobb asked the council to help residents keep the skyline clear and find alternate routes for what he described as massive towers.

"The financial impact will be tremendous for all of us on Read Road. Value of my property will go down the tube because I have a beautiful view lot at this time." he said.

"There are a lot of residents and I have talked to a number of you," said Councilmember Jacqui Irwin. "We're definitely behind you here. I think there are legitimate questions that have to be answered here . . . and staff has already included them in our request for a hearing. We're definitely listening to you and seeing what we can do."

When Irwin wondered aloud if there was really a need for this, staff said that Edison claims that by 2011, future commercial demand could exceed capacity.

"I can't imagine in this day and age a project of this type being proposed without a full environmental analysis. That to me is just unheard of," Gillette said.

Edison's application is at www.sce.com/presidential.