Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks and about two dozen residents challenged a public utility project that would bisect a rural neighborhood west of Moorpark and the Santa Rosa Valley. They voiced their concerns at a California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) hearing in Ventura last week.

Southern California Edison plans to construct 34 new tubular steel poles for a 66-kilovolt subtransmission line adjacent to an existing power line traveling between Gabbert Road in Moorpark and Newbury Park.

The nine-mile project, which was first proposed last year, would increase electrical capacity to meet current and anticipated demand, said SCE public affairs manager Rudy Gonzales in earlier statements.

It’s one of two SCE projects currently proposed for the region. The other one, known as the Presidential Substation, will include a 3.5-mile, 66-kilovolt subtransmission line running through the Tierra Rejada Valley. The power station itself is slated for a 4acre vacant parcel on the south side of Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks, less than two miles from the Reagan Library.

In most cases, Edison doesn’t need local approval for projects because the PUC has authority to approve or deny proposals, but in response to concerns from residents and county supervisors, the commission agreed to conduct an environmental review for the Presidential Substation last spring.

According to Parks, residents who live in the path of the proposed Moorpark to Newbury Park transmission line also want their concerns addressed.

Not only is the project much too close to homes, Parks said, but it doesn’t comply with the county’s General Plan because it would require grading in some areas and would impact residents, vegetation and scenic views, Parks said.

“The county’s priority is public safety, and putting 66-kilovolt high-power lines 60 feet from residential property is not good planning. There are better locations,” said Parks, the supervisor who represents all of Conejo Valley and Oak Park.

Opponents also voiced concerns over an active earthquake fault along the proposed route, the endangerment of natural habitat, the proximity of construction to homes and fire dangers associated with power lines. They suggested the lines be buried underground or installed elsewhere to avoid potential problems.

“We want to really reexamine the need, because these projects are based on figures set in 2004 and 2005, before people began to use more alternate power sources and before the recession began,” Santa Rosa Valley resident Peggy Ludington told the Acorn .

Ludington, who lives near the power line easement, said Edison continues to build new power lines throughout the county in piecemeal fashion without consulting public officials.

“The utility company has additional plans to add another set of towers in the same area within about a decade, but they didn’t disclose those plans until last week,” Ludington said.

County officials, Parks said, should be informed about future SCE projects so that a utility master plan can be created.

“If easements are too close to homes, perhaps they could be traded for other sites instead of having them 60 feet away from homes without input,” Parks said.

Kim Ramseyer, who lives in Home Acres, an unincorporated area west of Moorpark, is also concerned about the lack of disclosure. About 20 homes in her neighborhood, she said, would be affected by the new power lines.

“Residents will be able to practically throw a bucket of water from their yard to the new lines if built on the east side of the existing ones,” Ramseyer said, urging officials to reconsider the project. Due to greater use of alternative sources, the extra power may not be needed now, she said.

Supervisor Peter Foy didn’t attend the meeting last week, but he too said adjustments should be made to minimize impacts.

“There is no question, if we can help it, we don’t want to see the transmission lines. We’d rather see those lines underground and confirm that we do need the power that is required before construction begins,” he said.

The utilities commission listened to the concerns of residents but didn’t make a decision at last week’s meeting.

In a written statement, SCE said it’s committed to constructing the Moorpark-Newbury subtransmission project in accordance with PUC guidelines, ensuring that all state regulations governing structural and electrical safety as well as environmental requirements are met. The project is also consistent with the county general plan landuse policies, the company said.

According to the utility company, the new transmission line is needed to maintain service reliability and to expand and improve the local distribution grid.

“Without this project, reliable electric service to the area will be jeopardized,” the statement said.