[email protected] 281-825-6676 Number of Signatures 705 Current goal: 1000
Great news!!! Centerpoint Energy did not include segments A and F in their proposal to the PUCT. You can view their CCN proposal at their website below (in red). Thank you to all who participated in our protest. May this year be your best yet.
One proposed route is through a neighborhood off FM 2920. The second proposed route is along the Missouri Pacific Railway above Spring Stuebner Road. The third proposed route is around our neighborhood. The red/white dashed lines are existing power lines. The green, lettered segments are the proposed routes around our neighborhood. As you can see, if any of the segments lettered A, C, D, or F are used, they will enclosed our neighborhood on three, possibly four sides. This would include the Orwall Sports Complex and the Legends Sports Complex.
We are supporting the alternative proposed route along the Missouri Pacific railroad (the S-T-V segments) that already has an existing power line next to it. The proposed Grand Parkway will be built along side this railroad. It is located north of Spring Stuebner and south of the Exxon Complex.
We are protesting all segments around our neighborhood and support the route along the Missouri Pacific Railway, which will not intrude on any neighborhoods. The issues are:
1. loss of property value- it has been shown that property values decline in the vicinity of power lines.
2. health effects from the EMF's (electro-magnetic fields); the retrospective analyses of people living under power lines has shown some increase in diseases/conditions. See 'Health effects..." page. Not everyone agrees with this. Do your research and decide for yourself. Specifically segment 'F' near the sports fields.
3. should segment 'F' be utilized, some residents may be forced from their homes using Eminent Domain.
4. should segment 'F' be utilized, trees along the creek will have to be cut down to accommodate the 60-80' easement needed for the power lines, destroying our beautiful green belt.
Go to: www.centerpointenergy.com/swproject for a more extensive aerial view.
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In case you missed it, this is a copy of the article written by Catherine Dominguez for the Villager, dated October 13th.
Houston-based CenterPoint Energy is in the process of developing a new transmission line to provide electric service to almost 5,000 homes in a master-planned community south of The Woodlands in Spring. The new community will include 8 million square feet of office space and house the new Exxon Mobil corporate facility.
The energy company is in the first stages of developing the transmission line and has provided several proposed routes to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), which regulates the public utilities across the state.
However, some of those routes would cut close to or through residential neighborhoods in The Woodlands and Spring. The transmission line and substations are expected to be completed by the summer of 2014.Area residents hope the PUCT chooses the one route that keeps the line farthest from homes, schools and sports fields.
According to information from CenterPoint, the company will construct the 138kV double –circuit transmission line to connect with a proposed new substation that would connect with an existing transmission line along Interstate 45. “Electrical infrastructure improvements are required,” noted information from CenterPoint. “Therefore, significant electrical infrastructure improvements are required.” In May, Exxon Mobil officials confirmed that plans are in the works to open its 385-acre campus in the new Springwoods Village community. Company officials said expectations are that the facility will be ready for employees to move in sometime in 2014, with a completion date set in 2015.
Too close for comfort Transmission lines are high-voltage power lines that move electricity from generating station to substation. The lines are larger, operate at higher voltages and typically deliver electricity over longer distances, according to information from CenterPoint. Roxanne Miller, a resident of South Grogan’s Mill off Sawdust Road, said she hopes to rally her neighbors and address the PUCT about the different locations for the transmission line. She said the proposed route that follows the Missouri Pacific Railroad (the route is referred to as STV), which runs east to west, would be the best route and affect the least amount of people. “They wouldn’t have to clear any land, it’s already cleared,” she said. “It would be the perfect place for the power line, it won’t go through any neighborhood and it won’t distress anyone. That is the route we support.” Miller said the transmission line subject will be on the agenda for both the Grogan’s Mill Village Association meeting Oct. 17 and The Woodlands Township workshop meeting Oct. 20.
Rene Broom, a resident of Hanover Forest south of the Springwoods Village community in Spring, said she and her neighbors don’t want the transmission line near their homes either. She said her community also is concerned about where CenterPoint will locate a proposed transfer station. CenterPoint is proposing three substation sites. In the study area boundary, there are three existing substations. A substation transforms the voltage from high to low for distribution. “(Residents) are concerned about several issues related to this project, including the loss of property values, possible health issues related to electric and magnetic fields (EMF), the constant deep, loud humming from the substation and the safety issue of exploding or failing transformers,” Broom said. “In addition, this devastating eyesore did not exist when Hannover Forest residents purchased their homes.” Broom and other residents from Hanover Forest agree the best route is the one near the railroad. “Hannover Forest residents are recommending proposed substation site 2 and proposed high-voltage power transmission line sites S, T and V, which would follow established easements along the Missouri Pacific Railroad and proposed Grand Avenue Parkway,” Broom said.
Electric and Magnetic Fields Due to the location of Miller’s home to one of the proposed transmission line routes, she said her major concern is the effect of Electric and Magnetic Fields. “There is lots of information on the Internet about the dangers of living under a (high-voltage) power line,” she said. “We don’t want it at all. We don’t think it bordering our neighborhood is acceptable at all.”
According to the Centers of Disease Control, EMFs are invisible lines of force created whenever electricity is generated or used. EMFs are produced by power lines, electric wiring and electric equipment and appliances. People are exposed to both electric and magnetic fields, but scientists are most concerned about magnetic fields.
“Many studies report small increases in the rate of leukemia or brain cancer in groups of people living or working in high magnetic fields,” according to the CDC’s website. “Other studies have found no such increases.” The CDC site does note that there have been no studies conducted that provide exact data on the effect of EMFs. A few preliminary studies have associated workplace EMFs with breast cancer, and one study has reported a possible link between occupational EMF exposure and Alzheimer s disease. “The data from all of these studies are too limited for scientists to draw conclusions,” according to information on the site. “However, a national research effort is under way, and more study results are expected in a few years.”