Lack of reliable, easily accessible information about the Lake Elsinore Advanced Pump Storage LEAPS project by Nevada Hydro / LEAPS Hydro is the biggest issue.
The company has plenty of money to run full page ads in local publications, which include advertorials - Hack opinion pieces that look like editorials but are nothing more than cop
Lack of reliable, easily accessible information about the Lake Elsinore Advanced Pump Storage LEAPS project by Nevada Hydro / LEAPS Hydro is the biggest issue.
The company has plenty of money to run full page ads in local publications, which include advertorials - Hack opinion pieces that look like editorials but are nothing more than copy space given to advertisers
The second issue is a lack of urgency from local communities which think they won't be affected...
Canyon Lake - Wonder how they will get 50 billion gallons of water for the upper reservoir into Lake Elsinore? How are Canyon Lake's flood gates holding up?
La Cresta, DeLuz - Welcome to your new up and close view of giant power lines, loss of property values and added fire risk.
San Juan Capistrano - Where do you think 50 billion gallons of water will go if the Decker Canyon dam breaches?
Write a formal letter of PROTEST and submit it to FERC either on their e-comments webpage or via US mail.
You must state that you are submitting a letter of PROTEST. REFER TO Project P-14227-003 LAKE ELSINORE ADVANCED PUMP STORAGE.
Tell them why you oppose this project! How does it affect you?
Submit it to FERC either on
FERC's e-Comments
Write a formal letter of PROTEST and submit it to FERC either on their e-comments webpage or via US mail.
You must state that you are submitting a letter of PROTEST. REFER TO Project P-14227-003 LAKE ELSINORE ADVANCED PUMP STORAGE.
Tell them why you oppose this project! How does it affect you?
Submit it to FERC either on
FERC's e-Comments web page
or
Send US Mail letters:
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, NE. Washington, DC 20426
Get involved by spreading the word about this lousy project.
FLACC is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.
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Get involved by spreading the word about this lousy project.
FLACC is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.
Donations Accepted
While there is no charge to join FLACC, we can sure use your tax-deductible donations to fund public outreach campaigns, print signs, send mailers, email campaigns, produce, host and maintain the website.
Send Checks to:
Forest Lake and Communities Coalition
PO BOX 1047
Lake Elsinore, CA 92531
or
Nevada Hydro submitted a poll they conducted to FERC that claims local support for the project in Lake Elsinore.
Nowhere in that poll do they mention the 32 miles of power lines, heavy equipment traffic, pollution, interference with lake use, damage to Cleveland National Forest, business harm, or interference with fire-fighting aircraft.
In fact, only 1 in 5 people had even heard of LEAPS. Let them know what you think through the 5 minute Survey below.
We compiled a handy list of elected officials, agencies and Nevada Hydro / Leaps Hydro with contact information for residents to use.
Let politicians and the organizations involved in LEAPS know we will not tolerate this project in Lake Elsinore.
Demand they NOT support Nevada Hydro and ACTIVELY OPPOSE IT.
32 miles of High Voltage Wiring hung on giant buzzing, crackling and sparking electrical tower eye-sores are planned Through National Forest and Local Communities. Check out Nevada Hydro's transmission lines route map from September 2017 FERC filing. Is your property in the cross hairs?
Is your property on the list of properties to be taken (at "fair market price") through Eminent Domain or otherwise adversely affected by LEAPS?
Now that Eminent Domain has been ruled OK to use for private development projects, forcible taking of property and trampling of property rights are an inevitable outcome should the Nevada Hydro project materialize in Lake Elsinore.
We have all gotten behind that one truck that can't seem to go more than 20 mph uphill and can't pull over because getting going again is very difficult. This project will result in thousands of trips by loaded semi trucks as Nevada Hydro builds the upper dam. These construction activities will not only generate horrendous congestion and pollution in Lake Elsinore, they will KILL YOUR COMMUTE during a period of 2-5 YEARS.
The company says materials will be sourced from the mountain as they drill tunnels into the mountainside.
According to statements made by Nevada Hydro:
1. The proposed type of power lines do not cause fires, and, 2. In case of a fire they would be de-energized for safety. Given the area's heavy reliance on firefighting aircraft of all sizes, during frequent wild-land fire events, adding 32 miles of potentially deadly towers and high tension wires to the mix makes no sense. AIRCRAFT CANNOT OPERATE NEAR POWER LINES.
Learn about the area's Fire History:
9/05/2019 - 1,400 Acre Tenaja Fire
But Wait.... They Have a Fire Plan!
NEVADA HYDRO SUBMITTED A FIRE PLAN TO US FOREST SERVICE - IT DID NOT GO WELL. Learn More
Studies show artificial aeration is good in the right lake types but does not help control elevated nutrient content loads, which are the main contributor to green micro-flora in Lake Elsinore.
The Green algae color is a result of high phosphorus and other nutrients present in the waters that flow into the lake and within the lake's muddy bottom. Even if Nevada Hydro adds water during dry periods, it is the SAME nutrient-heavy water from the SAME sources and the vast majority of phosphorus is already in the muddy bottom.
Disturbing the bottom will make it worse, not better. If aeration worked for that purpose, we would have a clear blue lake by now due to the fact aeration has been in process for many years with no real impact on nutrient levels.
Nevada Hydro's Overblown Claims of benefits to Lake Elsinore border on laughable. Aside from temporary construction-related jobs and a brief spike in revenues from services to support these jobs, there are no benefits locally that come close to balancing the pain, damage and risk inflicted on our communities should LEAPS become a reality.
Check back often as our own citizens comment, show evidence, and debunk many of the specious claims made about this project. STOP LEAPS!
According to available fault zone maps, Nevada Hydro LEAPS project will be built on, along or near several known fault lines in the Lake Elsinore area.
Learn more: List of Dam Failures
Learn More: Read a 2018 Temblor article on the ELSINORE FAULT LINE'S RISK.
The Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, which owns an easement over Lake Elsinore's water, is quiet on this project. Why would the owner of the lake's water easement have nothing to say? Because they conveniently settled a lawsuit brought by Nevada Hydro. Thanks to Nevada Hydro's litigation against our water district, EVMWD is not only LEGALLY OBLIGATED to procure water for LEAPS, they must also do whatever Nevada Hydro wants them to do to facilitate the delivery of water. EVMWD is prevented from saying anything negative about this project after getting spanked in court by Nevada Hydro for breach of contract when they broke up. It's like they have to act as a Nevada Hydro partner but don't have to take any heat from residents... EVMWD already spent over $4 million of ratepayers money on this project, in addition to the settlement for $2 million it paid Nevada Hydro. GUESS WHO IS ON THE HOOK FOR THIS? ANYONE ELSE GET THEIR EVMWD RATE HIKE NOTICE???
What if we told you this was originally an ENRON project and the individual in charge of LEAPS was part of ENRON's executive leadership team during ENRON's criminal misadventures in Western States including California?
When Nevada Hydro began pushing this project, the idea was to buy low and sell high. Pump when energy is cheap and generate power when it can be sold at a higher rate. Well this approach has been modified since the realities of energy markets today do not support the spread required to make a profit.
The company is now proposing a model where electric ratepayers are expected to pay around $170 million per YEAR to support operations. This is called a Transmission Rate Incentive. This is why the two powerlines, not the single originally-proposed line, are key. No powerlines means they cannot be elegible for funds that energy transmission line operators receive, and the project dies.
Residents, government officials, Municipal Governments, native American tribes and civic organizations oppose LEAPS.
Many who fought and defeated this Nevada Hydro project in the past have been caught unaware of its latest reincarnation targeting Lake Elsinore.
In a time when California is actively removing obsolete dams for environmental reasons, why would Nevada Hydro Lake Elsinore Advanced Pump Storage project LEAPS be the exception?
ADVERSE IMPACT ON
- Native American Sites Cultural Heritage
- Endangered Species
- Decker Canyon Ecology
- Commuters
- Property owners and residents
- 32 miles of giant towers and 500 KV wiring
- Firefighting operations interference
- Damage to national forest
- No real benefits to Lake Elsinore
From a well-intentioned local project began by EVMWD to a supplier attempting to force a project into existence despite solid local, regional and state opposition. How did we get here?
Learn more:
City of Lake Elsinore Presentation April 2019
City of Lake Elsinore Officially Votes to OPPOSE
(click LEAPS agenda item on left of screen)
Learn more about LEAPS' Historical Context:
Defeating Nevada Hydro for good is a community effort - Can't get involved directly or don't have time? Fighting out of state corporate interests is not free! Help cover costs of community outreach, advertising, websites, flyers, litigation and PR.
Donations may be submitted online through secure link below or by check.
Send checks to (a receipt will be mailed back to you):
Forest Lake and Communities Coalition
PO BOX 1047
Lake Elsinore, CA 92531
FLACC is a registered Not-for-profit 501(c)(3) grass roots organization.