Introduction
We, the undersigned residents of Riverside, California, petition the Riverside City Council to advocate for undergrounding Southern California Edison's proposed overhead transmission lines (Application A.15-04-013). While we understand the importance of reliable electricity, we believe overhead lines pose significant environmental, aesthetic, and fire safety concerns for our community and economic disruption to disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Concerns with Overhead Lines

• Environmental Degradation: Overhead lines disrupt natural habitats and wildlife corridors, impacting the ecosystem balance, health, and beauty of our city's environment.
• Visual Blight: These lines would create an unsightly eyesore, detracting from the character and charm of our neighborhoods.
• Extreme Fire Danger: Overhead lines pose a serious fire threat, especially in our dry California climate, which is an area prone to high winds.
• Above-ground transmission lines will lower property values, and there have been reports of residents losing their home insurance coverage near high-voltage transmission lines because of the additional fire risk.
• The second "R" in RTRP stands for "Reliability." Still, during high wind events, as we experience with the Santa Annas every year, Edison can shut off the above-ground transmission lines to mitigate fire risk, defeating the lines' purpose to begin with.

Benefits of Undergrounding
1. Preserve Natural Beauty: Undergrounding protects the natural environment
and maintains the visual appeal of our city.
2. Enhances Fire Safety: Underground lines significantly reduce the risk of
wildfires sparked by electrical malfunctions and allow the use of fire-fighting
helicopters without concern for towers.
3. Promotes Environmental Justice: A commitment to undergrounding ensures
all communities are treated fairly and one community does not bear the burden of unsightly infrastructure, fire danger, and property devaluation.

Aligning with Riverside's Values
As a forward-thinking city committed to sustainability, Riverside should embrace innovative solutions such as undergrounding power lines. This approach aligns with our city's values by prioritizing:
1. Environmental responsibility - Existing Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
does not reflect significant changes in technology
2. Public safety
3. Community well-being
4. Sustainable development
5. Equity

Call to Action
We urge the Riverside City Council to:

1. Advocate for Southern California Edison (SCE) to bury the planned transmission power lines in Riverside.
2. Work with SCE to commission a new Environmental Impact Report, if necessary, expediting the process to avoid project delays.

By taking this proactive stance, the City Council demonstrates its commitment to effective, long-term planning and responsible development and ensures a vibrant, safe, and beautiful Riverside for all residents.

For more information: 

Neighbors Better Together (NBT)​

California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) - RTRP

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Please sign to show your support for undergrounding the power lines.