Petition Opposing Xcel Energy’s Proposed Very-High-Voltage Transmission Lines through Eastern El Paso County and Elbert County

Paper petition (complete with images) available here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/t83kg9ga0wqcuod/XcelPetitionDraft3_16Nov.pdf?dl=0

We, the undersigned residents of El Paso, Elbert, and Lincoln counties of eastern Colorado, hereby petition Xcel Energy and Colorado State authorities to abandon the proposed routes of 345,000-volt transmission lines through the Yoder-Rush and Ramah areas and locate them elsewhere: either (1) underground, (2) in a widened existing easement to the west (a more direct route), (3) following the I-25 corridor and its railway (4) through more remote and empty rangeland to the east, or (5) re-allocate your funds to build a Denver-area power plant, where the power is needed. The $2 billion allocated for running very-high-voltage transmission lines across the eastern portion of the state could go a long way toward funding sources of power locally, where it’s needed.

We cite the following concerns:

(1)    Adverse health effects including increased incidence of cancer, leukemia in children, impacts on the heart, fatigue, headaches, neurological problems, and adverse psychological effects including increased likelihood of depression or suicide, among others (see below)

(2)    Reduction in property values by 10 to 45%

(3)    Real estate selling points for unobstructed views of Pikes Peak, portions of the Front Range, and in some cases even the Sangre de Cristo range. If lines and towers obstruct our views that positive selling point is eliminated.

(4)    Earthen dams constructed by the government in the twentieth century must be left as-is to mitigate flash flooding. (Conservation districts have been contacted.)

(5)    Health and welfare of our vernal stock ponds and the wildlife they support. Some species (e.g., Couch’s spadefoot) may be on the state special concern or other state or federal threatened or endangered list. (Sierra Club, USGS have been contacted for guidance.)

(6)    Location in migratory bird flyway. Sandhill cranes and multiple species of geese use a flyway through the Yoder-Rush area, possibly attracted by the Ramah Reservoir within Colorado’s Ramah State Wildlife Area. Both towers and lines present a hazard to flocks landing and taking flight. EMF potential to disorient them during migration may exist. These birds are known to fly at lower levels in fog or during nighttime hours. Greater sandhill cranes are on the state special concern list. (Audubon Society, Sierra Club, and USGS researchers have been contacted for advice and support.)

(7)    Burrowing Owls, which live on several of our properties, are on the state threatened list.

(8)    Noise levels reaching or exceeding nuisance levels

(9)    Adverse, highly negative visual impact

(10) Psychological impact of invasive, looming towers and lines as a continual irritant detracting from our current natural surroundings, as well as from EMF (electromagnetic field) exposure, which has been associated with depression, suicide, and additional adverse psychological effects

(11) Adverse impacts on some residents to perform their work

(12) Flight space. We are aware that the military conducts highly intensive flight training in this area, specifically south of Yoder, north of Rush, and with very low flights in between. (Large, 4-engine transport flights occur directly above my house several times a week in the areas of lines 522, 523, 524 and beyond. Small-aircraft practice frequently occurs in the same area near Ramah Highway and Harding Road where they cross Big Springs Road, which is in the proximity of proposed line 523.) We understand that the military has forbade transmission lines and wind turbines in their flight training areas. Of additional concern is that some local residents fly their own airplanes to and from their property. Using line 520 (Lincoln County) rather than 521 between Harding and Rush roads would likely eliminate this latter concern.

Note the rectangular “Caution” notes associated with areas in the image below for “Intensive USAF student training” north of Rush and “Intensive student training” with “bullseye” south of Yoder. (Planes on their practice runs cover the entire Yoder-Rush area north of Highway 94, and for the large planes flying in and out of Peterson AFB, both north and south of Highway 94 between the designated areas. Low-altitude flights occur in the vicinity of the junction of proposed lines 522, 523, and 524.):

Supporting Information
Problems Associated with EHVs
Extra-High Voltage (EHV) 345,000-volt transmission lines pose the following hazards:

A.     Corona-generated effects

a.       High frequency interference including radio interference (RI) and television interference (TVI)

b.      Audible noise emission

c.       Ozone generation

d.      Oxides of nitrogen

e.       Ion drift for HVdc lines

B.      Induced voltage effects on humans, animals, metallic objects

a.       Electrostatic coupling

b.      Electromagnetic coupling

C.     Ground-current potential effects

D.    Conductive coupling effects

E.     Communication disruption of over-the-air TV and radio; satellite communications including GPS, TV; WiFi; microwave; cell phones

F.      Noise pollution at 50 dB within 200 feet hits nuisance noise level

G.    Air pollution by ozone generation and oxides of nitrogen

Most regulatory agencies have developed impact evaluation guidelines into the following four areas:

A.     Interference to Communication Facilities

B.      Public Safety and Comfort

C.     Noise Pollution

D.    Air Quality

Note that the corona and nitrogen effects are further explained in the Noise section, below.

An individual HAM radio operator in our community will be contacting you directly with their concerns.

When someone firmly contacts a vehicle beneath a transmission line, a continuous 60-Hz current will flow through the body. Preceding full contact, a spark will occur. (NYS study)

Environmental impacts must be rigorously studied throughout the seasons of the year, and consider safety to resident wildlife, migratory wildlife, flood mitigation, local wetlands and vernal ponds, as well as all aspects of the natural environment and landscape.

Adverse Health Effects
According to safespace.com:

Strong, artificial EMFs that radiate from power lines can scramble and interfere with your body’s natural EMF, affecting everything from your sleep cycles and stress levels to your immune response and DNA!

 

Image from safespace article listed in References.

If a residence were ¼ mile from a transmission line, that would be 1,320 feet or 402.3 meters. The example illustrated is a 765kV line, whereas the lines in question here are stated to be 345kV, which is a bit less than half the power in the example. Adjust accordingly. That might get us past the abnormal EEGs. An EEG is an electroencephalogram, which measures brain activity. What this shows is that when too close to too strong an EMF (electromagnetic field), it can disrupt your brain function. What remains are the decreased calcium flow, altered reaction times, altered biorhythms, and stunted growth.

It should further be noted that a proposal for a 345,000-volt line sometimes include a rider or “small print” specifying an option to double or otherwise increase the voltage at a later date. Either an exclusion of this option must be explicitly stated in any legal documents to prevent voltage increases, or siting of lines must be at sufficient distances from residences and sensitive natural areas to accommodate any future increase.

It was determined by the Three-County Community Coalition in the early 2000s that transmission lines proposed at that time should be at least a mile away from residences in order to maintain residents’ health, and at an absolute minimum, a half mile distant to minimize adverse health impacts. Some of our resources specify a 2-mile minimum distance from residences.

World Health Organization (WHO)

According to research and publications put out by the World Health Organization (WHO), EMFs such as those from power lines, can cause:

Headaches
Fatigue
Anxiety
Insomnia
Prickling and/or burning skin
Rashes
Muscle pain
 

ESTABLISHING A DIALOGUE ON RISKS FROM ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS

RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

DEPARTMENT OF PROTECTION OF THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND 2002

CONCLUSIONS FROM SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH LOW-FREQUENCY FIELDS Scientific knowledge about the health effects of EMF is substantial and is based on a large number of epidemiological, animal and invitro studies. Many health outcomes ranging from reproductive defects to cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases have been examined, but the most consistent evidence to date concerns childhood leukemia. (p. 5)

Reported Biological Effects

A New York State study published by the U.S Department of Energy (see References) includes the following list of reported biological effects:

In humans and primates:

-Increased triglycerides in the blood

-Accelerated bone fracture healing

-Altered psychomotor reaction times

-Shifts in the timing of normal daily rhythms

-Lack of a feeling of well-being

-Sensations of fatigue, depression, and headache

-Changes in the electrical activity patterns of the brain

In rats, mice, and guinea pigs:

-Decreased weight gain

-Altered enzyme levels in various organs

-Altered levels of steroids in the blood

-Increased bone growth

-Bone tumor induction

-Electrocardiogram phasing

-Changes in blood cell count

-Alterations in the concentration of blood chemicals

-Perception of electromagnetic field

-Locomotor activity changes

-Lethality

-Weight loss in progeny

-Organ weight changes

-Water consumption changes

-Changes in milk production in nursing females

-Change in litter size

In miscellaneous species and organisms (dogs, cats, birds, invertebrates,

and plants):

-Cell cycle alteration

-Alterations in the cell division rate

-Perception of electromagnetic fields

-Leaf tip burning

-Reduction in calcium-release from brain tissue

-Orientation to electromagnetic fields

-Decreased compensation to stress induction

 
Noise and Nitrogen
Initial research indicates that the level of a 345,000-volt line is 50 decibels (dB); that figure may be underestimated. A New York State study found noise levels at 53 dB to 58 dB at a distance of 125 feet. The same study found that residences 500 feet from the right-of-way would experience “unacceptable indoor noise levels” above 35 decibels, and “steady nighttime noise levels above 35 dB”, with some residents experiencing difficulty sleeping. It also determined that people 8 feet apart at the edge of the right-of-way would have difficulty understanding one another when speaking, due to the noise.

Colorado noise statute 25-12-103 Maximum permissible noise levels has a maximum level at 50 decibels, with a reduction of 5 decibels (to 45 dB) for periodic noises. Sound levels are to be measured when wind speed is no more than 5 miles per hour. While consideration may be given for ambient noise, there is no ambient noise beyond an occasional bird song.

Xcel has educated us regarding the uncoated transmission lines. The length of these lines are uncoated, unprotected cables comprised of twisted primarily-aluminum cabling of a few millimeters in diameter. The interaction of nitrogen in the atmosphere with the pits, or nicks, causes crackling sounds and a glowing corona around the cables. (Nitrogen gas comprises about 78% of earth’s atmosphere.) The smaller cabling contains pitting from the process by which it is manufactured. As those uncoated cables become further pitted from the elements of weather and blowing sand the increased pitting will cause the snapping and crackling sounds to increase with time. The lines would be sandblasted with winds frequently above 45 mph and sometimes in excess of 100 mph in this environment, raising the noise emissions and corona effect.

While howling of towers and lines during a blizzard may add to the ambient howling, the usual ambient sound is silence. Ambient noise in this environment normally ranges from none whatsoever to very little, such as birdsong in the fields and breeze rustling through the grass. We enjoy summertime songs of Western Meadowlarks and Lark Buntings, the state bird, during the summer, and a quiet tinkling of Horned Larks in the fields year-round. Often, there is absolutely no sound other than the blood coursing through your own ears. Consequently, any noise emitted by transmission lines would be staggeringly disruptive.

Lights
Any lights, specifically flashing lights, can cause seizures in individuals with epilepsy, past brain injury, or other neurological issues.

Prior Petition and Decision
In the early 2000s, Xcel Energy proposed a similar line in the same area as the current “focus area” today. A community group called the Three-County Coalition, with its attorney, engineers, electrical power industry experts, and concerned citizens, petitioned against the proposed lines, providing evidence supporting their argument that the line should not be located here. Further, the coalition suggested that Xcel use its existing easements and right-of-way closer to Colorado Springs, and that solution resolved the issue. Since those same arguments, and more, exist today, it is surprising that Xcel has changed its “extended area” to it “focus area” during recent weeks to the same location that was successfully opposed in the early 2000s.

Given that history, and the increase in population in this area since then, one might wonder why Xcel is re-proposing the same intrusion into the same space. We’re the same people and more, with many more houses much closer together, and the arguments for not putting a line through here still hold. Further, additional concerns beyond those originally expressed have caused us to contact other professionals and organizations for guidance.

Since the earlier effort, the population of eastern El Paso County has grown significantly. El Paso County has rivaled Denver County as the most populous of Colorado, with the 2020 census showing El Paso County as the state's most populous. With little room to expand elsewhere, much of the county's growth is to the east of Ellicott toward Yoder and Rush. What felt like the middle-of-nowhere in 2002 now feels like the middle of a bedroom community. The number of residences have tripled or quadrupled in many areas over the intervening years. Why would Xcel return to an area that clearly and successfully opposed its very-high-voltage transmission line in the early 2000s, and now has a much larger population of residents than it did then?

The arguments against the line have only compounded over the ensuing years, as shown in the petition’s list of concerns. We suggest that you (1) bury the line, (2) use existing easements and rights-of-way for expansion, (3) construct power plants locally near high-use metropolitan areas, or (4) move the proposed Tundra-Harvest Mile line further eastward to rangeland in Lincoln County, which has experienced only a 3.8% growth in population from 2010 to 2020 as compared to El Paso County's 17.4% increase. Lincoln county maintains much of its largely-vacant ranchland comprised of larger parcels (thousands of acres each) compared to eastern El Paso county's increasingly ranchland-to-residential trend, comprised of more and smaller parcels of land as the ranches have become subdivided for development.

Sense of Place
Disruption to sense of place
Devine-Wright (2009) makes the case that residents of a given community become attached to a place and its landscape characteristics, which in turn becomes part of the identity of residents. This creates a key link between individual perception and social interaction: a person’s “sense of place” is determined in large part by the meaning a community attaches to a particular place. Devine-Wright’s (2009) model is based on social representations theory, which holds that individual knowledge is socially constructed through interaction between individuals, and between individuals and social institutions. Devine-Wright and Howes (2010) finds evidence, based on case studies of wind farm siting in the UK, that development of places that are deemed natural by the community will trigger oppositional attitudes and behavior in individuals. They observe that place attachment is a significant factor in determining whether residents took action (such as signing petitions) against a wind power project. Not only does social interaction determine individual attitudes toward a place, but it also shapes resident views of the project developer, who is often viewed as part of an “outgroup” and thus faces a higher burden in convincing a community that an infrastructure project will be beneficial. Since these results are mostly based on case study analyses of wind projects in the UK, they may lack generalizability to other settings. Nonetheless, their model is well supported and appears robust: Given that similar people tend to live near each other and share attitudes and beliefs, an energy project that impinges on a shared community resource can disrupt community sense of place and unite people in opposition against the project.

The role of community-based organizations
Collective organizations of one kind or another have a long history in natural resource management (Pretty and Ward, 2001). Although the definition of community-based organization (CBO) can vary widely, in the siting context, a CBO is usually an advocacy organization representing a specific community or segment of a community (Borden and Perkins, 2003). CBOs play a major role in how effectively a community is able to oppose a given project. Gross (2007) finds that community-based organizations (CBOs) may spring up in response to the perceived threat of infrastructure projects, especially if residents believe that the process is not fair or that their concerns have been ignored (p. 2732). Boudet and Ortolano (2010) develop a useful approach for understanding how CBOs interact with individuals and the broader social context. After a project proposal generates a “shock” within a community, residents who are adversely affected assess the project risks and then evaluate the social resources (including existing organizations) available to contest the project (p. 8). In their case-based analysis of two attempts to site LNG terminals in California, Boudet and Ortolano find that existing organizations and associated “social capital” (such as trained activists) can play an important role in successfully opposing projects—however, networks of educated professionals can compensate for a lack of social capital by creating ad hoc groups to oppose projects (p. 14). In summary, social interaction plays an important role in the development of individual attitudes. A community’s sense of a place helps shape what an individual believes about a landscape and thus whether a project is appropriately placed. Social knowledge may be more important than personal knowledge in shaping an individual’s attitudes toward the project, the process and the actors. Person-to-person communication may be especially important in individual risk perception. And since homophily leads to geographic proximity, and proximity increases interaction and improves credibility, a project may be viewed as an intrusion by an outside developer that violates shared community beliefs.

 
Our Sense of Place
Research has brought to light that articles addressing residents’ reluctance to be relocated or to accept an invasion of looming, hazardous foreign objects into their living space include explanations of, and advice on working around, the community’s “sense of place”. It is understood that communities in a natural environment, such as ours here, maintain a stronger sense of place, and more strongly and vociferously object to its invasion or destruction.

No matter how hard we try to explain the differences between living in, or in close proximity to, a metropolitan area versus living close to nature, the concept of this lifestyle and experience is entirely incomprehensible to those not having lived it. A life fully immersed in the natural world – as is ours – is a life in which each moment, each event is fully felt and savored. We don’t watch life pass by; we don’t just look at our environment – we *feel* our environment. It brings us peace, provides serenity, and becomes part of who we are.

Our current environment is filled with peace, quiet, starry nights, and birdsong. That’s what fills us up every day. We feel peaceful, quiet, starry, and full of song. Inflicting threatening objects onto this natural world would make us feel threatened every moment of every day. From those living near them, I’ve been told they experience headaches and excessive fatigue. The lines sound like very loud sizzling bacon. Residents can’t touch a fence unless it’s grounded or they would get a huge jolt of electricity. They were told that lines are high to avoid “frying” whatever is below. Our peaceful, natural surroundings would feel unceasingly threatening, both to ourselves and the wildlife with whom we gratefully share it.

Attempts to explain this concept resulted in the heartfelt message below, which has been embraced by members of our coalition and community:

The joy and exhilaration that we find out here in our open spaces close to nature is incomprehensible to those who don't live and love it.

We are pioneers, building our homes, raising and loving our children and animals, loving our vast, natural landscape, and finding fulfillment in creating our own little piece of hearth and home. We find depth of meaning and purpose in planting a seed and watching it grow.

We hear the sounds of snowflakes drifting down, or of mist sticking to our jackets. We hear a breeze rasping through a clump of dried grass, through the boughs of an elm, or whispering through the needles of a Ponderosa pine - and we know, without looking, which is which.

We count the pinks, magentas, blues, greens, salmons, silvers, and golds of a sunset as we name the colors, all the while knowing that they can't be counted or even all named in the endless ways they blend together.

We care whether a wind comes from the northwest or the southeast. We find a thrill in the silhouettes found in fog, the stillness of twilight, the croaking of toads when a thunderstorm has filled their little pond.

We notice the difference between the meadowlarks’ excited "I'm happy to be back and this is my nesting spot" springtime song and the soulful chirpings of their autumn "time to go, see you next year" song.

In noticing these countless little things and their nuances, we live life deeply. We appreciate not only a woods rose, but also five different types of clover. We don't just *look* at the world around us - we *feel* the world around us.

This feeling gives us a sense of place. And that sense of place connects us together even if we haven't met, because we know that you can't live out here without experiencing and appreciating this deep connection with the natural world.

When someone tells me that they hadn't noticed a significant decline in property values along major thoroughfares Woodmen Road and Academy Boulevard when power lines went up, I'm saddened that they don't comprehend that there's a difference between Woodmen or Academy and Ramah Highway or Big Springs (both dirt roads). They don't understand that a new power line on Woodmen or Academy is just one more power line. It may be taller, but it's just one among many.

Here where we have broad, unbroken expanses of field and sky, even a stock tank is noticeable from a mile away. Anything taller than a house that isn't a hard-won tree is an abomination, an intrusion upon our senses and sensibilities. Any sound louder than the tinkling "goodnight" song of the horned larks out across the fields is a raucous shout.

There is no and can be no comparison between Woodmen or Academy and Book or Sengbeil. This is a message that may unite us all out here. But no matter how hard we try, we cannot share it with people who haven't loved this way of life. And that saddens me.

 

References
 Bonislawski, Adam, The Electrifying Factor Affecting Your Property’s Value, August 15, 2018, The Wall Street Journal, “The Electrifying Factor Affecting Your Property’s Value - WSJ”, wsj.com  https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-electrifying-factor-affecting-your-propertys-value-1534343506?fbclid=IwAR2_53hsgj6cFrUDHhTg29mH_dpMYdOSo-PJA0a17k63LdqumzHU3_G8ESc

Cain,N. L., Nelson, H.T., Author's personal copy 208 N.L. Cain, H.T. Nelson / Land Use Policy 33 (2013) 204–213 shared community resource can disrupt community sense of place and unite people in opposition against the project.

Colorado Parks & Wildlife: Ramah SWA, ““https://cpw.state.co.us/swa/RamahSWA cpw.state.co.us”, No publication date or author name provided. https://cpw.state.co.us/swa/Ramah%20SWA

EMF Pollution from Living Near Power Lines, “Power Lines – Safe Space Protection”, safespaceprotection.com, no author or publication date provided https://www.safespaceprotection.com/emf-health-risks/emf-health-effects/power-lines/

Meggitt, Jane, How Much Do Power Lines Lower Real Estate Value?, January 30, 2021, SFGATE, “How Much Do Power Lines Lower Real Estate Value?” homeguides.sfgate.com <https://homeguides.sfgate.com/much-power-lines-lower-real-estate-value-2979.html>

Scott-Walton, Barry, et al., Potential Environmental Effects of 765-kV Transmission Lines: Views Before the New York State Public Service' Commission, Cases 26529 and 26559, 1976-1978, November 1979, U.S. Department of Energy, Assistant Secretary for Environment, Environmental Control Technology Division, Washington, D.C. 20545

Shah, KR et al., Review of State/Federal Environmental Regulations Pertaining to the Electrical Effects of Overhead Transmission Lines: 978 January 1979, Prepared by Dr. K. R. Shah, P.E. Shah & Associates Inc. Gaithersburg, Maryland https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6218817

Transmission Lines and Birds: Properly sited transmission lines can be safer for birds and are part of a responsible renewable energy future, “Transmission Lines and Birds | Audubon”, audubon.org, no date or author name provided. https://www.audubon.org/news/transmission-lines-and-birds