We're over 450 signatures demanding that our member owned electric cooperative take a one year pause on mass tree cutting throughout Buena Vista in order to conduct a more thorough study on the better alternative of burying electric lines. 

The more we learn about modern best practices for managing electric delivery, safety, fires and trees, the more reasonable our demands are proving to be.

News is even coming out that the horrible fires in Hawaii over the last week may have been started by multiple electric lines! What a preventable tragedy this is turning out to be! It turns out that in high winds, lines can come down or spark and cause fires, poles can topple and cause fires, and tree branches or other debris flying through the air can cause fires (even when no tree actually fell on the line). 

We have wind here too, and without trees to protect the lines, they will be even more susceptible to causing fires. 

In fact, two (2) fires have been started by overhead electric lines (no trees involved) in BV on the disc golf course in the last few months alone! What if no one had noticed and these fires spread into town or into the hills?  

After all the research we have collectively done over the last 6 weeks, it's clear that Sangre needs to update its plan and a one year moratorium on mass tree removal is warranted.  

We're hoping Sangre will VOLUNTARILY take this one year pause in order to conduct the needed research before deterring next steps. 

If they do not, we are asking Town to use it's powers under the controlling ordinance to issues an official Notice letting Sangre know that it views the utility in violation of the reasonableness provision, and minimize harm to trees provision, of the franchise agreement if it does not take this one year to investigate alternate options to mass tree removal. 

WE NEED YOU TO SHOW UP!

Now it's time to let Sangre and the Town unequivocally know that the people support this one year time period for creating a better, safer plan. Two SUPER IMPORTANT events to attend. Let's get 100 people to show up! We need your help to make our collective voices heard.

Please come to one or both and tell your friends: 

1. Thurs., August 17, 2023 - Sangre de Christo Electric Offices

• 7:00 -8:30 am Coffee with Sangre

2. Tues., August 22, 2023 - BV Community Center

• 6:30 Work Session, Presentations by SDCEA, BV Tree Coalition and Tree Board. Discussion and questions. Come to this to learn more and show your support. 
• 7:30 Town Trustee Meeting - Sign up to give a public comment (3 minutes max per person) or just show up in support. 

Can't wait to see you TOMORROW morning AND/OR Tuesday evening. 

It's crunch time! Trees will be cut down starting October 1st if we don't show up now. 

Thank you,

BV Tree Coalition