Reject Chino Hills Underground Transmission Line Proposal

Chino Hills Obstruction of the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project

AAEA President Visits Chino Hills

AAEA opposes undergrounding the Chino Hills section of the line and the CPUC should reject this proposal. It is an unnecessary alteration of an already approved plan.The California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) should reject the Chino Hills underground transmission line proposal.  AAEA supports the timely completion of the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project (TRTP). California ratepayers do not need the significant increase in the cost of the transmission line simply to appease the aesthetic requirements of some stakeholders.  These types of NIMBY stumbling blocks have been known to obstruct construction of needed infrastructure. 

AAEA is particularly concerned about threats to a project that provides emission free electricity to Californians.  Such projects are welcome relief for those in minority areas that are disproportionately affected by pollution and have higher incidences of asthma.  Any threat to TRIP is a threat to asthmatics.  Any delay in TRTP delays mitigation of asthma in vulnerable communities.

The underground proposal undermines CPUC's approval of the Alta Windpower Project in the Tehachapi area, one of the largest wind energy contracts in the United States.  The underground proposal is also unacceptable because 12 of 16 transmission structures have already been completed as part of the approved overhead position in the existing utility right-of-way corridor.