This energy will not even benefit Camden Point, nor will it benefit the landowners in any way. In fact, it could cause great harm to the land it is to be built upon. Pesticides will be used to keep the land clear, killing animals and stunting plant growth. When they build the lines, farmland and natural habitats alike will be ripped up and destroyed. Much of what they propose will go right by people's houses.
If KCP&L were to get an easement on your property you could not build any permanent structures or plant trees on that property, ever. These lines are permanent. If you do not agree to an easement, KCP&L can acquire your property through eminent domain.
Our lives will be negatively impacted. This will affect our residences, farming, and the natural environment. I have lived here all my life, and KCP&L cannot take that away from me. This would damage our rural environment, we do not want to be made an industrial area. Building these power lines will greatly lower our property values, permanently.
You can check out their side of the story at kcpl.com, but don't believe everything you read there. These people have paid public relations people, but they are a private company and care nothing for the little guy.
There is no advantage to the people of Camden Point having these lines being put on our property. I have been wondering why KCP&L does not just use existing lines to transfer their energy? It would be so much less expensive for both us and them. Anyway, just so long as they stay the hell out of Camden Point. They could also go along major roadways, but everything just has to be so complicated...
If we give them an inch it may be the start of Camden Point falling to eminent domain. I'm kind of scared here, people. For heaven's sake, sign the petition!!! Call me, or come and see me over the next few day. These petitions are due on Sunday at 3:00, don't be afraid to show interest. The next meeting to fight this monster is Sunday at 3:00 at the Camden Point community center.
Oh, and take KCP&L's survey at this survey link. Tell them exactly what you think about this line, so long as you are against it. ; )
I really don't like eminent domain. I don't think it's ever used for the "public good;" rather, it's a commercial tool. Maybe some day there will be amendments to require community votes for eminent domain actions?
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question about why a 345-kV transmission line needs to be constructed: even if the new power plant is near existing transmission lines, those lines may already be at capacity. Capacity is determined by the voltage, current profile (ac vs. dc), and size/material of the conductors. As world power needs grow (this growth never stops!) new transmission lines - at increasing higher voltages - are constructed to ferry the new demand. So there isn't any stopping the new line from being built: you can only change the path (and maybe the destination). Why Nashua was chosen is anybody's guess... you can look at the map here: http://www.spp.org/publications/Transmission_Project_Portfolio_Approved_4_29_09.pdf
Good luck with your petition! Sadly, it usually comes down to a mixture of property values, terrain suitability (both already considered in the feasibility study), and relative opposition... i.e. legal costs to secure right-of-way. Make it hurt KCPL/SPP more than the other guy and you are golden. Camden Point is a beautiful place; hopefully you can keep it that way.
You go girl! Along with a petition - get articles in local newspapers, fliers at churches, get ahold of Susan Brown - she can also help steer you toward ways to get organizations to help in the opposition. The more you publicize the opposition and cause grieve to KCPL the better. To sit by and do nothing gives them free license to take what they want. This community can ban together!
ReplyDeleteIt's worth pointing out the Camden Point gets its power from KCPL and for the energy to be transmitted to Camden Point it must be transmitted over someone else's land. It seems difficult to justify asking KCPL to build power lines from their plant to your house and no further. it is analogous to requesting the city build a road from the grocery store to your house and no further because you don't want the traffic.
ReplyDeleteAt one time it was possible to be entirely self sufficient because energy came from burning wood and food came from home gardens. The introduction of shared technologies such as running water, electricity, and gas requires a degree of interdependency that is sometimes unpleasant, but none-the-less necessary. The way to overlook the ugliness of power-line installation and maintenance is to remind yourself that there are many that had to make similar sacrifices for electricity to be transmitted to your home.
None of the power from the proposed transmission lines will be used by Camden Point, it is all extra power from a Plant that we did not even want to be put in. They are selling this power to Nebraska.
ReplyDeleteIt is not just that we don't want to look at the lines, we have heard of research that the lines are bad for the health of anyone living in a certain vicinity of the line itself. This much power running through the lines affects household appliances, what will it do to our children???