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By Michael A. Hilberath
To all interested parties, please help in a letter writing campaign to save the Lake Elsinore Site from disappearing forever!
There is a proposed plan to build a hydroelectric plant on the ridge that contains the Elsinore launches. The plan is to pump water up the ridge at night filling a reservoir, when electricity costs are lower, and to let the water out of the reservoir during the day to produce electricity when electricity costs are higher. Thereby producing a net monetary gain. Note that there is a net loss in power due to the efficiency of the plant. They are willing to simply waste energy to do nothing more than turn a buck for themselves. By the way, there are several other plants such as this, so this proposal is a reality.
The proposed reservoir may impact the thermal generation above the ridge, which may impact the flying site, but, the major impact to the site is the intrusion into airspace by their proposed high-voltage transmission lines along the ridge in both directions. This would surely end hang gliding at Lake Elsinore forever.
Please copy the letter below, adding and subtracting what you will, and mail them to the addresses listed. The addresses are listed in order of importance, so start at the top of the list. You don't have to write to all of them, but the more letters you do send the better our chances of saving the "E".
I know it's hard. It's a lot of work, but it could make a difference. If the whole of the USHGA made themselves heard! If YOUR SITE were to be ENDED FOREVER, wouldn't you like some help in saving it? The letter below may also be copied from the web at www.theeteam.org under the "news" heading. I could also send you self-addressed stamped envelopes for your letters if you send me your name and address at eteamer@usa.net, or phone 1-949-455-0032. I am trying to make this as easy as possible on you, but you will have to spend some of your time and energy to make this work, by making some letters, signing your name, and putting your return address on the envelopes. And please put your return address, it makes the receiver of your letters that much more accountable. And thanks a lot in advance! (Of course, hand written, original letters are best, emails second, and phone calls third.)
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Dear (Mr. Boegers, etc.),
RE: Lake Elsinore Advanced Pumping Storage Project #P-11858/000
I am writing you this letter to protest the proposed hydroelectric plant that is being planned for the City of Lake Elsinore California.
The facility as presently proposed will preclude forever any hang gliding activities in the Lake Elsinore area! The city of Lake Elsinore has been a host to the sport of hang gilding for over 40 years. Present businesses as well as past have and do rely on hang gliding to subsist. It seems highly unfair and opposite to past policies to allow this to happen.
The sport of hang gliding and a hydroelectric plant could co-exist if the proper steps were taken to support both activities. As a sport, hang gliding requires very little space on the ground. The two small areas of land on the top of the ridge, appox. 1.5 acres, that are presently used as hang glider launches is all that is required. Agreements with landowners on the valley floor have provided sufficient landing resources.
What we cannot live with are intrusions into the airspace surrounding the launches and landing areas. The plans for the hydroelectric plant call for building high-voltage transmission lines directly in the present flight path of the over 30-year-old sport of hang gliding at Lake Elsinore!
I am adamantly opposed to such a proposed plan, and request that steps be taken to secure the future of hang gliding in the Lake Elsinore area. I believe that the City of Lake Elsinore prides itself on having many sports and activities such as boating on the lake to attract visitors to the area. Please see the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce website at http://www.levcc.org/chamber/homepage.htm .
I again implore you to consider the consequences of causing the elimination of something so beautiful and as old as hang gliding in the Lake Elsinore area. Please do not let this proposed hydro facility put an end to the recreational sport of sport of hang gliding at Lake Elsinore.
Best regards,
Your Name
Your Address Here |
Please mail letters to:
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ***The MOST Important
David P. Boegers, Office of the Secretary address!!!!!!!!!1
888 First St. N.E.
Washington DC 20426
ELSINORE VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DIST Second most important
Phil Miller, General Manager address.
Greg Morrison, Project Coordinator
Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District
31315 Chaney Street
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
E-mail: www.evmwd.com
Phone: (909) 674-3146
California Senator
The Honorable Barbara Boxer
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
E-mail: senator@boxer.senate.gov
Web: boxer.senate.gov
Phone: (202) 224-3553
Fax: (202) 228-1338
California Senator
The Honorable Diane Feinstein
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
E-mail: senator@feinstein.senate.gov
Web: feinstein.senate.gov
Phone: (202) 224-3841
Fax: (202) 228-3954
California Governor
Governor Gray Davis
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
E-mail: graydavis@governor.ca.gov
Fax: 916-445-4633
Riverside County Supervisor Bob A. Buster
District Office
41002 County Center Drive, Suite 205
Temecula, California 92591
E-mail: district1@co.riverside.ca.us
Phone: (909) 600-6250
National Forest Supervisor's Office
Supervisor Anne Fege
10845 Rancho Bernardo Road, #200
San Diego, CA 92127-2107
email: mailroom_r5_cleveland@fs.fed.us
Phone: (858) 673-6180
Fax: (858) 673-6192
Lake Elsinore City Council
Mayor Robert Schiffner
130 South Main Street
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
Phone: 909 674-3124
Forest Service
Trabuco Ranger District
Attn: Leah Diregorio
1147 East Sixth Street
Corona, CA 91719
Phone: 909-736-1811
Lake Elsinore Chamber of Commerce
President Donna Niehouse
132 West Graham Avenue
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530.
Phone: (909) 245-8848
Sierra Club
85 Second Street, Second Floor
San Francisco CA, 94105-3441
E-mail: information@sierraclub.org
Phone: 415-977-5500
Fax: 415-977-5799.
Edison International
Edison Mission Energy Division
18101 Von Karman Ave., Suite 1700
Irvine, CA 92612-1046
Phone: (949) 752-5588
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