Myth #1. It's too early in the process to get worried.
• LADWP has been planning this project since 2005 or earlier. Survey markers were placed along this
route by the LADWP in April 2007. An application to the BLM for a right-of-way through this desert
was dated December 2006. LADWP documents identify the route from Desert Hot Springs to
Hesperia as "preferred" as early as 2006.
• Early in the process we hope to convince LADWP to adopt a more sensible path for this project,
such as using existing corridors for power transmission in areas that have already been developed
rather than destroying untouched desert. The longer we wait, the more committed LADWP will be to
this route and only this route.
• Does LADWP expect us to sit idly by until bulldozers arrive?
Myth #2. No route has been decided upon yet.
• The route through the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, other pristine desert lands, and through
communities from Desert Hot Springs to Hesperia was referred to by LADWP in 2006-2007
documents as "preferred," "least expensive," and "facing least potential opposition." An application
to the BLM for right-of-way dated December 2006 lists ONLY land sections along this route. Survey
markers were placed by LADWP on private and public lands along this route, and only this route, in
April 2007.
• If LADWP is truly considering alternate routes (such as along pre-existing corridors designated for
power transmission), it is only because force is being exerted by individuals and agencies acting
as "watchdogs" in this process.
Myth #3. LADWP will seek public input before deciding on a route.
• LADWP planned this project for three years without seeking input from the desert communities.
They submitted an application to the BLM for right-of-way along a route through the Big Morongo
Canyon Preserve, the Pioneertown Mountains Preserve, other sensitive desert lands, and a host of
desert communities. They placed survey markers on public and private lands along this route.
• Two years after selecting its preferred route, LADWP finally held its first public meeting in Yucca
Valley. This was only after more than a year of citizens' inquiries and pressure from elected officials.
LADWP has had internal discussions (accessed via documents on the Web) about ways to
overcome opposition to this project, one of which was to ask the federal government to intervene on
its behalf.
Myth #4. Local cooperation is not needed because the project will be on federal lands.
• The proposed route passes across 30 miles of PRIVATE land in communities from Desert Hot
Springs to Hesperia. LADWP has already placed some survey markers on private land without the
landowner's knowledge or consent.
Myth #5. It's useless to fight it because of the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor designation.
• According to official documents, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) jurisdiction is
triggered only under certain conditions, including that the project be for interstate power transmission
and that the project reduce congestion of transmission. Green Path North is described as bringing
power from one California county to another, and since its starting and finishing terminals are the
same as any alternate route, does not reduce congestion at those points.
• FERC is directed to conduct an independent environmental review of any proposed project, and to
look at alternatives, including alternatives other than transmission lines. So, even though FERC has
been granted expanded powers, they do not automatically pertain to Green Path North.
Myth #6. Green Path North is needed to benefit the economy of Imperial County.
• If this is true, would Imperial County fail to benefit if the power lines followed currently existing,
approved transmission corridors?
Myth #7. Green Path North is needed to bring dependable renewable energy to Los Angeles.
• If this is true, would Los Angeles fail to receive the power if the power lines followed currently
existing, approved transmission corridors?
• The geothermal plants to provide this energy do not yet exist. The power currently generated at the
Salton Sea is promised elsewhere. If Green Path North is completed before new geothermal power
plants are approved (if they are) and in place, LADWP is likely to import "dirty" power rather than let
the lines stand unused.
• Los Angeles has many options for generating renewable energy within its own borders, such as solar
photovoltaic, biomass, and hydro generation. Southern California Edison is leading the nation in its
plan to install photovoltaic cells on 65 million square feet of rooftops in Southern California. Why not
LADWP? Locally generated electricity is also more dependable than that transmitted over long
distances.
Myth #8. Opposition to Green Path North is just NIMBYism.
• Actually, it's Los Angeles that is saying "not in my backyard" by wanting to get its water from the
Cadiz aquifer, dump its garbage at Eagle Mountain, and run its power lines through nature preserves
and rural communities.
• Alternate routes designated for power transmission exist. They do not require building miles of new
roads through fragile desert. Being less remote, they are better accessed by emergency vehicles,
such as firefighters and law enforcement.
• Bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, and other vulnerable species live in the proposed path of
destruction. Proximity to wildlife is one reason many of us chose to live here. We consider ourselves
stewards of the desert and have to say "not in their homes," because these desert species can't say
it for themselves.
Myth #9. Opponents of Green Path North want the benefits but are not willing to pay the price.
• San Bernardino County communities will receive NO benefits from this project. But the price we are
being asked to pay is enormous. Who will pay if a power line goes down in a remote area and starts
a wildfire? Who will pay to clean up illegal dumping off the new roads? Who will pay to restore
damage from vehicles and OHVs that don't stay on the road? Who will pay for police or search and
rescue operations in the newly opened areas? Not LADWP.
• Desert communities are being asked to tolerate permanent marring of our landscape, decreased
property values, negative impact on our cherished wildlife, and a negative impact on our biggest
economy, tourism. LADWP and its partners will reap all of the profit.
Myth #10. Opponents of Green Path North are just a few environmentalists making a lot of noise.
• Opponents of Green Path North include realtors and land developers, Republicans and Democrats,
liberals and conservatives, civic organizations, local governments, local chambers of commerce and
other businesses, along with environmentalists.
• Resolutions opposing Green Path North have been passed by local, regional, and federal government
entities, politicians, and organizations (see Opposition to Green Path North). The affected citizens
and their representatives are unified in opposition to this project.
• LADWP has been planning this project since 2005 or earlier. Survey markers were placed along this
route by the LADWP in April 2007. An application to the BLM for a right-of-way through this desert
was dated December 2006. LADWP documents identify the route from Desert Hot Springs to
Hesperia as "preferred" as early as 2006.
• Early in the process we hope to convince LADWP to adopt a more sensible path for this project,
such as using existing corridors for power transmission in areas that have already been developed
rather than destroying untouched desert. The longer we wait, the more committed LADWP will be to
this route and only this route.
• Does LADWP expect us to sit idly by until bulldozers arrive?
Myth #2. No route has been decided upon yet.
• The route through the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, other pristine desert lands, and through
communities from Desert Hot Springs to Hesperia was referred to by LADWP in 2006-2007
documents as "preferred," "least expensive," and "facing least potential opposition." An application
to the BLM for right-of-way dated December 2006 lists ONLY land sections along this route. Survey
markers were placed by LADWP on private and public lands along this route, and only this route, in
April 2007.
• If LADWP is truly considering alternate routes (such as along pre-existing corridors designated for
power transmission), it is only because force is being exerted by individuals and agencies acting
as "watchdogs" in this process.
Myth #3. LADWP will seek public input before deciding on a route.
• LADWP planned this project for three years without seeking input from the desert communities.
They submitted an application to the BLM for right-of-way along a route through the Big Morongo
Canyon Preserve, the Pioneertown Mountains Preserve, other sensitive desert lands, and a host of
desert communities. They placed survey markers on public and private lands along this route.
• Two years after selecting its preferred route, LADWP finally held its first public meeting in Yucca
Valley. This was only after more than a year of citizens' inquiries and pressure from elected officials.
LADWP has had internal discussions (accessed via documents on the Web) about ways to
overcome opposition to this project, one of which was to ask the federal government to intervene on
its behalf.
Myth #4. Local cooperation is not needed because the project will be on federal lands.
• The proposed route passes across 30 miles of PRIVATE land in communities from Desert Hot
Springs to Hesperia. LADWP has already placed some survey markers on private land without the
landowner's knowledge or consent.
Myth #5. It's useless to fight it because of the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor designation.
• According to official documents, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) jurisdiction is
triggered only under certain conditions, including that the project be for interstate power transmission
and that the project reduce congestion of transmission. Green Path North is described as bringing
power from one California county to another, and since its starting and finishing terminals are the
same as any alternate route, does not reduce congestion at those points.
• FERC is directed to conduct an independent environmental review of any proposed project, and to
look at alternatives, including alternatives other than transmission lines. So, even though FERC has
been granted expanded powers, they do not automatically pertain to Green Path North.
Myth #6. Green Path North is needed to benefit the economy of Imperial County.
• If this is true, would Imperial County fail to benefit if the power lines followed currently existing,
approved transmission corridors?
Myth #7. Green Path North is needed to bring dependable renewable energy to Los Angeles.
• If this is true, would Los Angeles fail to receive the power if the power lines followed currently
existing, approved transmission corridors?
• The geothermal plants to provide this energy do not yet exist. The power currently generated at the
Salton Sea is promised elsewhere. If Green Path North is completed before new geothermal power
plants are approved (if they are) and in place, LADWP is likely to import "dirty" power rather than let
the lines stand unused.
• Los Angeles has many options for generating renewable energy within its own borders, such as solar
photovoltaic, biomass, and hydro generation. Southern California Edison is leading the nation in its
plan to install photovoltaic cells on 65 million square feet of rooftops in Southern California. Why not
LADWP? Locally generated electricity is also more dependable than that transmitted over long
distances.
Myth #8. Opposition to Green Path North is just NIMBYism.
• Actually, it's Los Angeles that is saying "not in my backyard" by wanting to get its water from the
Cadiz aquifer, dump its garbage at Eagle Mountain, and run its power lines through nature preserves
and rural communities.
• Alternate routes designated for power transmission exist. They do not require building miles of new
roads through fragile desert. Being less remote, they are better accessed by emergency vehicles,
such as firefighters and law enforcement.
• Bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, and other vulnerable species live in the proposed path of
destruction. Proximity to wildlife is one reason many of us chose to live here. We consider ourselves
stewards of the desert and have to say "not in their homes," because these desert species can't say
it for themselves.
Myth #9. Opponents of Green Path North want the benefits but are not willing to pay the price.
• San Bernardino County communities will receive NO benefits from this project. But the price we are
being asked to pay is enormous. Who will pay if a power line goes down in a remote area and starts
a wildfire? Who will pay to clean up illegal dumping off the new roads? Who will pay to restore
damage from vehicles and OHVs that don't stay on the road? Who will pay for police or search and
rescue operations in the newly opened areas? Not LADWP.
• Desert communities are being asked to tolerate permanent marring of our landscape, decreased
property values, negative impact on our cherished wildlife, and a negative impact on our biggest
economy, tourism. LADWP and its partners will reap all of the profit.
Myth #10. Opponents of Green Path North are just a few environmentalists making a lot of noise.
• Opponents of Green Path North include realtors and land developers, Republicans and Democrats,
liberals and conservatives, civic organizations, local governments, local chambers of commerce and
other businesses, along with environmentalists.
• Resolutions opposing Green Path North have been passed by local, regional, and federal government
entities, politicians, and organizations (see Opposition to Green Path North). The affected citizens
and their representatives are unified in opposition to this project.
Overview of GPN: Myths Dispelled
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