Greetings from Clark and Susie Giles in wonderful Central Texas. San Saba County to be exact. Home to both caves and bats so I am hoping this one post will be deemed caving related. I have had a hard disk crash and lost many of my contacts information. The problem is this "green" thing. Windmills were built in West Texas to generate power for the Austin area. In order to get the power there Oncor is proposing a route of 12 story tall power lines across near pristine Central Texas. They should be using already established routes but unfortunately San Saba County has been a path of least resistance. I think I am as "green" as the next person but I can tell you this is not the "green" thing to do. Read more at www.sansabaposse.org <http://www.sansabaposse.org/> .
I understand that where they have built this type of power line over trail ride areas the horses have to be specifically trained to go under them. Imagine what this energy could do to a bat or a bee. We have whooping cranes that migrate across here. I watched a flight of geese go overhead the other day. Clark and I went for an 8 mile bike ride this morning on dirt roads and never encountered a car. We have quiet here. I don't have cell phone coverage at my home and don't care. Many cavers know what I mean when I talk about being able to enjoy the quiet in caving. I'm afraid these power lines are very noisy. I am facing a short deadline. November 6. I own property in San Saba County and was never notified about this proposed route. If you are interested email me at susie.gi...@gmail.com and I will send you a copy of what the Sierra Club has submitted. I need help from organizations like NSS and BCI. I know a stalactite from a stalagmite but I don't know shit from sour apple butter about the TX Public Utility Commission or power lines. My knowledge of why they are a bad idea is more intuitive. I need environmental organizations to get on board and protest. If you have contacts in Audubon, Wildflowers. Historical Society or ideas about how to help please let me know or make them aware of what is going on. Many of you have enjoyed the view from our historic Regency Bridge across the Colorado River. It will be blighted by 12 story tall power lines that cross the Colorado twice just in San Saba County. Our local volunteer fire department barn is in the path of this route and will have to be torn down. I live in a great place and of course I suffer from the "no one wants it in their backyard syndrome" but this is just wrong in so many ways. I am working on a list of the top 10 reasons why this is a bad idea so if you have one please send it to me. Our local public schools are struggling to exist and the drop in property values could close some of them down. I am protesting on the grounds that everyone in a civilized society deserves access to a basic education. I need to leave environmental issues to experts such as yourselves. I cannot attend the meetings in Austin because the lines do not go directly over my property but anyone can protest. You can buy a U.S. Postal stamp online but you cannot submit a protest to the TX PUC online. You have to send 10 copies of your protest to these guys. How "green" is that? You can download the form from www.sansabaposse.org <http://www.sansabaposse.org/> . I hope you are all well. Clark and I are doing great. Just celebrated 23 years of marriage! Every day is still an adventure. Happy Trails, Susie Giles
