THE PRESIDENTIAL SUBSTATION PROJECT

The Presidential Substation Project — named after the neighboring Ronald Reagan Presidential Library — is an unnecessary energy-development scheme that threatens to further fragment a patchwork of wildlife preserves and open space in Southern California’s Tierra Rejada Valley. This project proposes a new energy substation and new power lines to cut across an important wildlife corridor, critical habitat for numerous rare and endangered species, and the Tierra Rejada greenbelt. Straddling the area between Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, and Simi Valley in Ventura County, the greenbelt is now the last remaining open space that prevents these three sprawling cities from merging together and squeezing out wildlife.

Through habitat destruction and industrial development, the Presidential Project threatens a key wildlife linkage that connects the Santa Monica Mountains to the south with inland ranges and the Santa Clara River to the north. Wildlife linkages are an essential part of the web that protects wildlife and connects our open spaces.  Without these essential corridors, wildlife would be prevented from finding the room it needs to roam for food, flee from disaster events such as floods or wildfires, and reproduce. The more we fragment open-space protections and wildlife linkages, the more tenuous rare species’ existence becomes.

The Presidential Project is designed to cut through federally protected critical habitat for three of the rarest species in Southern California: the diminutive coastal California gnatcatcher, the ephemeral Riverside fairy shrimp, and the yellow-flowering Lyon's pentachaeta. 

There are less environmentally destructive and less costly methods to provide for long-term power in Southern California. In fact, the company behind the project — Southern California Edison — is recklessly choosing the most environmentally destructive path for its plan, not only destroying wildlife habitat but ignoring important opportunities to increase renewable energy, use energy efficiently, and implement smart-grid technology. Instead of providing energy-efficiency upgrades or solar panels for existing homes, the Presidential Project feeds into fossil-fuel power plants that increase greenhouse gas emissions.

OUR CAMPAIGN

Over the past several years the Center has formally protested the project, submitted comments on the deficiencies in the review process for the project, and filed a formal statement with the California Public Utilities Commission urging better review and improved alternatives. We’ve also sent in several requests for Southern California Edison to release information related to the project to shine light on the public process. Our information requests have revealed that energy use in the area has actually decreased, contrary to statements by Southern California Edison. This shows that expensive and destructive upgrades aren’t even needed. Last, but not least, we’ve worked with in partnership with STTOP — the Sub-Transmission Towers Opposition Project — to find better alternatives to the project.

We are continuing to advocate for sustainable energy solutions that don’t sacrifice wildlife by assuring the environmental and project review process conforms to the law, and forces the adoption of an environmentally superior alternative to the Presidential Substation Project.