The Daily News Journal-TVA should seek substation options with less impact
The Daily News Journal
Originally published May 14, 2006
TVA should seeksubstation options with less impact
More than 1,200 people signed a petition opposing TVA's two proposed sites for a 500-kilovolt substation near Eagleville and the Patterson community in southwest Rutherford County.
It's a message the Tennessee Valley Authority should hear loud and clear.
Residents of this area, and many in neighboring Williamson County, learned about TVA's plan April 11 and had only 30 days to respond. Yet they gathered 1,200 signatures opposing the plan, which would require 50 acres for the substation and hundreds more for transmission lines through the rural area. They turned in the petition Thursday.
For their part, TVA officials say without a new substation, Rutherford and Williamson counties would suffer an electricity shortage by 2010.
Nobody is opposed to electricity, the extension of lines or a substation — just location.
TVA's plan would destroy the lives of numerous families in the area, where the rural way of life is highly valued.
Concerns abound about health, land values and the environment, and the plan could force some residents to sell their land or businesses, the petition claims.
Relatives of Pauline Arnold have lived in the Patterson community south of state Route 96 West (Franklin Road) since 1932. She grew up there. She and her husband want to retire there, where they have deer and turkeys scampering across their yard every evening.
U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Murfreesboro, believes residents are receiving a tough deal from TVA. He wants the utility to look for alternatives.
TVA has pointed to cost concerns in building elsewhere, but some ideals rise above dollars and cents.
Farmland is disappearing fast. Once it's gone, then what? Are we willing to give up our green space without investigating every alternative for a new power station?
We're not, and neither are the residents of southwestern Rutherford County.
TVA announced Thursday it would extend the public comment period on the plan so more residents can weigh in.
This shouldn't be window-dressing. TVA should seriously consider the property owner complaints, seek alternatives and offer a Plan B.
Power is a necessity, but not at the cost of ruining people's lives.
Originally published May 14, 2006
TVA should seeksubstation options with less impact
More than 1,200 people signed a petition opposing TVA's two proposed sites for a 500-kilovolt substation near Eagleville and the Patterson community in southwest Rutherford County.
It's a message the Tennessee Valley Authority should hear loud and clear.
Residents of this area, and many in neighboring Williamson County, learned about TVA's plan April 11 and had only 30 days to respond. Yet they gathered 1,200 signatures opposing the plan, which would require 50 acres for the substation and hundreds more for transmission lines through the rural area. They turned in the petition Thursday.
For their part, TVA officials say without a new substation, Rutherford and Williamson counties would suffer an electricity shortage by 2010.
Nobody is opposed to electricity, the extension of lines or a substation — just location.
TVA's plan would destroy the lives of numerous families in the area, where the rural way of life is highly valued.
Concerns abound about health, land values and the environment, and the plan could force some residents to sell their land or businesses, the petition claims.
Relatives of Pauline Arnold have lived in the Patterson community south of state Route 96 West (Franklin Road) since 1932. She grew up there. She and her husband want to retire there, where they have deer and turkeys scampering across their yard every evening.
U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Murfreesboro, believes residents are receiving a tough deal from TVA. He wants the utility to look for alternatives.
TVA has pointed to cost concerns in building elsewhere, but some ideals rise above dollars and cents.
Farmland is disappearing fast. Once it's gone, then what? Are we willing to give up our green space without investigating every alternative for a new power station?
We're not, and neither are the residents of southwestern Rutherford County.
TVA announced Thursday it would extend the public comment period on the plan so more residents can weigh in.
This shouldn't be window-dressing. TVA should seriously consider the property owner complaints, seek alternatives and offer a Plan B.
Power is a necessity, but not at the cost of ruining people's lives.
posted by BryanY. at 1:19 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home