Supervisor Baugh charges up big crowd

OUT IN FORCE:
Nearly 350 residents of Cottonwood, Round Mountain and Millville showed up to a public meeting to discuss concern over planned overhead transmission lines that would direct power generated from wind farms in Lassen and eastern Shasta counties to the national grid.

A meeting called by Cottonwood resident Donna Caldwell attracted 347 people to the North Cottonwood Elementary School gymnasium.

Attendees from Cottonwood, Round Mountain and Millville gathered to share their concerns over a proposed electrical transmission line that could run through those communities, bringing electricity from wind farms planned for Lassen County as well as similar generators on Hatchet Mountain near Burney to connect with the national power grid.

While no proponent or principal of the project agency, Transmission Agency of Northern California (TANC), spoke at the meeting, many residents voiced anger about the possibility of being forced off their land or forced to submit to allowing transmission lines on their property.

"Anyone with a doubt that their house could be forced-purchased needs to think again," said Les Baugh, a Shasta County Supervisor whose District 5 includes much of the proposed transmission line's route. Baugh spoke at some length during the meeting regarding his concerns about the power line proposal that would benefit the City of Redding, among other partners in the energy consortium.

The scoping period, during which TANC would accept comments before the Draft Environmental Impact Report, ends May 31. Baugh railed against the agency for its "poor communication" reaching the public regarding its plans.

"They are so vague with details, but they want precision from us about what it will affect," Baugh said at the meeting. "Do I object to this whole process? Absolutely."

Baugh said the Shasta County Board of Supervisors requested a TANC representative speak with the board to provide more information.

A letter to that effect was to be sent to TANC following the board's May 19 meeting, Baugh said, adding that county supervisors also will request an additional extension of the scoping period.

Baugh repeated his over-riding message to residents to write their concerns about the impacts of the power line project to TANC for inclusion into the DEIR. Baugh recommended residents not only write in to TANC, but also to copy their comments in an e-mail to Baugh, who will include their names along with his comment to TANC.

Also active at the meeting was Lisa Goza, a Round Mountain activist and operator of the Web site, www.stoptanc.com. Form letters opposing the transmission project are available online at the site.

Beyond the fear of losing land, residents opposed the power lines on aesthetic grounds. The lines would ruin the natural view, many said.

"We live on a ridge with the most beautiful view of Lassen (peak)," said Tom Silva of Cottonwood.

"That's why we bought (the land)," added his wife, Trisha Silva. "Now we have no option. We can't sell the house."

"Why don't they go west of Cottonwood?" Tom Silva asked. "There are fewer dwellings there."

Caldwell, who organized the meeting, received $700 in donations at the meeting to begin a non-profit group North State Land Owners Committee.

The group intends to compile data keeping people abreast of information about TANC and the transmission line project, Caldwell said. For more about the group, call 355-5200.

Baugh can be e-mailed at lbaugh@co.shasta.ca.us. For information about TANC, see http://www.tanc.us/content/blogsection/7/48/.

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