Xcel's Planned Substation Draws Protests From Thornton Residents
THORNTON, Colo. (CBS4) - More than 150 people took to the streets in Thornton on Saturday to protest a new energy substation.
Xcel Energy is planning to build the substation at 136th Avenue and Holly Street near the Marshall Lake subdivision. Residents there have several reasons why they don't want the building near their homes.
Residents say property values will be affected, there are health concerns, and it just doesn't fit in with their lifestyle.
The plans call for the substation to be built only 156 feet from the nearest house.
"It just doesn't belong here," resident Casey Lemieux said.
With Thornton's rising energy demands and an infrastructure that's already maxed out, Xcel says a new substation is necessary.
"We absolutely understand we need it but there's got to be a better location," Lemieux said.
Lemieux and dozens of his neighbors gathered to send a message.
"Save our homes, protect our kids," the demonstrators shouted.
"As far as values in the neighborhood, you can see anywhere from 30 to 60 percent of value lost," a resident said.
Sourrounded by homes, parks and wildlife, others fear the long-term effects of a 200 megavolt substation.
"It causes cancer, I don't want it near my kids," said a woman protesting on Saturday. "Also all these nature preserves that we have that we've spent so much money to build. And then they're going to put a substation right in the middle of it."
"We'd move, we'd sell our house," a man said. "It's too much of a risk for our health and our children's health."
Xcel released a statement about the substation.
"Evidence doesn't support a demonstrated link between health effects and EMF (electro-magnetic field) exposure from transmission lines," Xcel said.
The company also claims that property values shouldn't be measurably affected.
If approved, construction on the substation could begin this summer.
