CPS held an information session about a new substation in Westover Hills at Warren High School on Nov. 8. Photo by Jessica Castillo

Residents of Westover Hills expressed apprehension over a proposed power line and substation at an open house hosted by CPS Energy on Nov. 8.

The proposed power line would run from the existing Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) substation, located next to Maxim Integrated Products Inc., west along Wiseman Road and up Impala Summit to a future substation, then run south along Rogers Road. The high-voltage power line, also known as a transmission line, will run approximately two miles.

“This is a power freeway, a straight shot from one point to the next point as fast as we can move it,” said Project Manager P. George Corrigan.

The 2.5-acre substation will be south of the Mountain View property line and north of the Microsoft data center. The power line will connect the two substations to provide electrical power to existing and upcoming businesses and residential homes.

One resident suggested that CPS Energy expand the existing VLSI substation, but was told by a consultant that there is not enough physical space to do so. Another suggested changing the location of the future substation, but was told that was not an alternative because CPS Energy does not know what is planned for the open acres of land.

As Westover Hills continues to grow commercially, residents are aware of the need for dependable electricity; however, their main concern is that the high voltage power line and substation will be built too close to their homes.

“It’s really easy to see where it would go, straight down the back of the residential neighborhood,” said resident Jan Wells.

Wells, who resides on the southern property line of Mountain View, is also concerned that the land is not stable enough to hold the piers because of problems the 50-year-old neighborhood has experienced in the past.

“If you put a whole bunch of holes across a board, it breaks easily,” said Wells.

Other issues brought up by attendees were the amount of construction, the environment and aesthetics. CPS Energy offered two options: lattice tower or monopole.

“They’ve already started to cut down trees,” one resident said.

About 30 people, including State Rep. Jose Menendez, attended the open house, far fewer than the number of residents who will be affected by the project.

“We want them to move it,” Menendez said.

The “informational meeting” was reminiscent of a middle school science fair. In the Warren High School cafeteria, CPS consultants stood in front of large map displays as attendees browsed by each set-up.

“I walked in here and was expecting a meeting” said Wells. “This is not a meeting.”

CPS Energy consultants asked the attendees to fill out a questionnaire to provide further comment.

“We really need public input. We don’t live here, so we’re here tonight to understand what the different impacts are,” said Corrigan.

The comments will be given to an environmental consultant for assessment. The results will then be considered by the CPS Energy Board of Trustees who will make the final decision on the route. The Board of Trustees also established a timeline for the project, which will complete in April 2009. CPS Energy does not plan to hold another public meeting.

“This is really a very confined power line,” said Corrigan. “That’s why we only need one public meeting,”

CPS Energy has future plans to construct a second power line in the area, but did not discuss the project at the open house.