On March 21, 2024, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) held a public voting meeting in San Francisco, California. The Commission voted 3-0 to reject the City of Norco’s Petition for Modification to underground the entire length of the Riverside Transmission Reliability Project (RTRP), which will construct above-ground transmission lines in a fire-prone area along Norco’s portion of the Santa Ana River. As a result, the City of Norco is now supporting the legislative efforts of Assemblymember Bill Essayli and Senator Kelly Seyarto, who are introducing AB 3076 to require the CPUC to suspend the RTRP until an updated environmental impact study can be completed.
“I am incredibly frustrated at the lack of concern for the impact giant transmission towers and power lines will have on the fire safety of Norco and our neighbors,” stated Mayor Kevin Bash. “I’m thankful that our local legislators are stepping in to ask that the current environmental effects are studied before the RTRP is constructed.”
On October 2, 2023, the City of Norco filed legal action requesting that the CPUC reconsider the full undergrounding alternative of the RTRP. The Petition for Modification noted that Norco has experienced a dramatic increase in the risk of catastrophic wildfires within its city limits since the original environmental impact study was conducted. This risk will be increased exponentially by the construction of an overhead, high-voltage transmission line that will pass through open space loaded with flammable vegetation in the very region that gave the notorious Santa Ana Winds their name.
“I am extremely disappointed in today’s decision to move forward with the dangerous plan to build above-ground transmission lines along the Santa Ana River,” said Assemblymember Bill Essayli. “AB 3076 will halt approval for the project until a comprehensive environmental impact study that considers the true fire risk is completed.”
Dozens of area residents, as well as Congressman Ken Calvert and Riverside City Council Members Chuck Condor and Steve Hemenway, provided written and verbal comments in favor of Norco’s petition at the CPUC meeting on March 21, 2024.
“Residents called in, wrote letters, and sent comments to make sure their voices were heard,” stated Mayor Pro Tem Greg Newton. “It is disheartening to watch the Commission ignore the local voices that will be most affected and move this project forward without considering the expert testimony of our local fire chiefs.”
Since 2017, the City of Norco has communicated its concerns about the RTRP and has publicly opposed the construction of any above-ground transmission lines in and around River Trails Park along the Santa Ana River, as well as in adjacent neighborhoods outside of Norco. The RTRP was proposed to provide the City of Riverside with additional power capacity to serve existing and projected electrical demand, however the approved above-ground transmission lines present significant hazards, specifically wildfire hazards, to surrounding communities.
“We need to consider the wildfire risk involved in letting the RTRP project going forward unchanged,” said Senator Kelly Seyarto. “The responsible thing to do is to complete an updated environmental impact report to acknowledge that increased risk and consider the needs of our community.”
For more information on the City of Norco’s efforts to underground the Riverside Transmission Reliability Project, visit www.norco.ca.us/RTRP.
For media inquiries, contact the City of Norco Communications Division at comm@ci.norco.ca.us.
