A community volunteer opposes a proposed high-voltage powerline project near populated areas and asks tha…

I support the study of electromagnetic fields and associated regulations that protect the public. I am a volunteer with Save Temecula, a nonprofit organization formed in 2026 to fight San Diego Gas and Electric’s proposed Golden Pacific Powerlink featuring 145-mile long 200’ tall 500,000 volt extra high voltage power towers/lines through a densely populated area of Temecula, CA. This is the largest and most invasive project SDG&E has undertaken through a well-established urban area. As a volunteer, I have spoken with thousands of residents who say one of their major concerns, behind wildfires, is EMF exposure. This project would be only hundreds of feet from homes, businesses, schools, churches, daycare centers, playgrounds, parks, walking paths, an historic district, etc. This investor owned utility downplays our concerns, saying that studies find EMF harm to be inconclusive; they compare exposure to our microwave ovens that we generally use for minutes rather than on an ongoing basis. However, residents are so concerned that they are willing to move elsewhere if the power towers are approved by the California Public Utilities Commission. In less than five months, more than 12,000 people have signed a change.org petition against this project and in just a couple months, more than $30,000 has been raised to fight it. Additionally, I have a friend whose husband died of brain cancer, which adds to my suspicion of EMFs. She and her husband purchased a home in foreclosure overlooking the Southern California Edison extra high voltage lines in Corona. This young man’s past time was working in their beautiful backyard. Furthermore, some of our community leaders and local utility experts have extensively studied EMFs, and they have concluded this is potentially harmful to human health. I believe the SDG&E Golden Pacific Powerlink project (which will be filed with the California Public Utilities Commission mid-November 2026) and others like it should be placed on hold until Federal studies have concluded. Otherwise millions of people will be paying for this outdated infrastructure through significant rate increases. Thank you for your concerns and action regarding electromatic fields. For more information regarding my concerns, please consult SaveTemecula.org and the City of Temecula’s website at www.temeculaca.gov Sincerely, Melanie Nieman