Undergrounding proponents experience their worst scenario. An exceptionally strong storm fells a tree on a power line. No neighborhood confronts catastrophe; no house sustains fire damage; no person suffers harm. A few people endure a power outage. The incident resembles the core meltdown at the Three-Mile-Island nuclear reactor. Although the meltdown presents no danger to the neighboring community, naïfs see the meltdown portending nuclear oblivion; engineers, confirming nuclear safety. Only unreasonable fears drive nuclear power and undergrounding policies.
Undergrounding does not diminish power outages, since insufficient generating capacity provides more power unreliability than downed power lines. Carbon taxes and Environmental Protection Agency classification of carbon dioxide as a pollutant threaten low-cost fossil-fuel generation. Without baseline nuclear power, mandated renewable power provides marginal generation. Governmental bureaucracy and tedious environmental impact studies delay all generation increases. Neighborhood opposition to generating facilities further delays increased generation. Potential damage to an artificial fish hatchery kills a proposed geothermal installation. Senator Feinstein's efforts to declare a large portion of the Mojave Desert a national monument eliminates many promising solar-thermal sites. Near universal opposition to transmission lines limits imported and distant generation.
Unable to make a case for enhanced safety or reliability, undergrounding proponents can only advance cosmetic arguments.
John Haraden
Del Mar
Utility project is not economically feasible
At a time of unprecedented economic hardship by many in our town, we are dismayed to learn that some of our North Hills neighbors are nevertheless planning to vote in favor of undergrounding utilities in our area. As many have testified, this will place a tremendous financial burden on them if this initiative is approved. The costs and fees are extraordinarily high for those on fixed incomes and some may have to sell their homes if this measure is passed. Many are losing sleep over the fear of being taxed on something they cannot afford. How can folks be expected to pay for this when they're already having difficulty meeting their basic needs and expenses?
How sad that the "haves" apparently value aesthetics - sometimes masquerading as safety - over the suffering of our neighbors. We urge residents and the City Council to vote "no."
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