What is your Opinion on Nevada Hydro's LEAPS project? Five Minutes!

Are you in any way connected to, or have a financial interest in the LEAPS project moving forward? *

Yes

No

Please leave now. If you are in any way shape or form part of the LEAPS Project you are hereby prohibited from using this form. Any use of this system by Nevada Hydro or any of its representatives will consitute illegal access to a computer system once submitted. This form will collect your IP address.

About this Survey

FLACC - Forest, Lake and Communities Coalition is trying to gauge how affected residents feel about Nevada Hydro's LEAPS project.

In April of 2019, Nevada Hydro submitted a poll which purported to show strong local support for the LEAPS project and submitted it to FERC as "evidence" of local support. The poll asked a sample of residents if they were aware of the project. Less than 20% knew about it. When 80% of respondents said they were not aware, Nevada Hydro provided this statement as a description of the project:

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"Question: Now I'm going to read you some more information about a proposed hydroelectric project on Lake Elsinore. California Law requires our state to obtain 100% of its electricity from renewable resources by 2045. To help meet this demand, the Nevada Hydro Copmpany has proposed to construct "The LEAPS Project," a hydroelectric project that consists of an upper reservoir that would be constructed in the Cleveland National Forest at Decker Canyon, just south of Route 74. Lake Elsinore would serve as the "lower reservoir." A set of tunnels would connect the two reservoirs. When electrical energy is in high demand, the water in the upper reservoir is released through tunnels flowing down turbines at the powerhouse. Projects like LEAPS are designed to ensure our communities have clean, safe and reliable electric energy supplies now and in future years. Based on what yoiu now know, do you support or oppose the LEAPS hydroelectric project?"

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Sunshine and roses right? How could anyone POSSIBLY oppose this? Well, Nevada Hydro failed to mention a long list of potential downsides - the list is long... Read on.

TOWERS WILL DESTROY FOREST VIEWS
- Giant 500KV Electrical towers as tall as 194 ft. and 32 miles of high voltage wiring will be installed from Corona to Murrieta along the pristine mountain ridge through both private property and Forest lands, then right through the forest toward the coast. The towers and high-voltage wiring with it's distinct electric zapping and humming will be the dominating feature on the mountain when you look up from the lake or drive through "scenic" Ortega Highway---forever. Nevada Hydro claimed in a recent newspaper ad that you would barely see the towers and they would be somehow camouflaged (seriously).

- Towers and facilities within the protected national forest will require over 5 miles of new access roads for building and maintenance. You can't do everything with helicopters.

- Environmental damage to Decker Canyon will be irreversible.

WATER QUALITY
Their big selling point -- That the project would significantly improve the Lake Water-- is not supported by evidence. Aeration of the lake as the water is cycled will add some oxygen to the lake. It will not affect the lake's high-nutrient content which is dictated by existing lake water, the mud on the bottom and the water sources for the lake. Phosphorous is the cause of the lake's green hue - feeding microscopic algae. Adding oxygen and even extra water from the same sources will not improve this. If anything, disturbing the bottom, where the majority of nutrients are, would disperse additional nutrients into the water.

- Lake turbidity (cloudy water with disturbed solids) will increase as a result of massive volumes of water being moved. Who knows what kind of nasty things this will disturb from the lake's muddy bottom. Nevada Hydro has not presented a decisive method to alleviate this issue.

- The lake level will fluctuate significantly - Lake Elsinore will have a "tide."

FIRE DANGER
- Firefighting aircraft will be at risk around these wires, endangering not only private property but also first responders on the ground that rely on air support. The company says these towers don't cause fires, but they cannot deny firefighting aircraft operations would be hindered.

CONSTRUCTION
- Thousands of trucks day and night to deliver materials, personnel and equipment for the upper dam will be added to Ortega Highway every day for at least 2-5 years.

- Dynamite, heavy construction in our forest, noise and dust for a minimum of 2-5 years.

- No added recreational opportunities - We will not be able to use the upper reservoir for anything.

- Massive construction activity in Lakeland Village for 2-5 years. A football field sized generating station will be installed in Lakeland Village. They say 300 feet underground. Certainly the giant turbines will be rumbling quietly.

EARTHQUAKE RISK
- A failure of the upper dam, or tunnels / pumping station which would partially sit in active fault zones, would be catastrophic downstream.

EMINENT DOMAIN
- It has been estimated 500 plus properties are at risk of forcible taking via Eminent Domain or affected by the project.

FUN FACTS
- The project generates exactly ZERO net energy, and only generates at best 85% of energy consumed while pumping.

- The business model is to buy low, sell high. In other words, pump when energy prices are cheap, generate when it is expensive.

- The Principal manager of this project was previously ENRON management in charge of Western States business development while Californians were being shafted on energy bills by ENRON.

- Nevada Hydro, an out of state company with zero local roots was created solely for this purpose and has three employees, maybe more by now. The company has never actually built any similar projects.

- Nevada Hydro sued EVMWD for $24 million and EVMWD settled. Nevada Hydro gets $2 million cash, the right to have EVMWD supply water, and prevents the water authority from making any negative comments or taking a stand on this project. EVMWD ratepayers are already paying Nevada Hydro through the $4 million EVMWD poured into the project on behalf of Nevada Hydro - Did you receive your EVMWD notice of rate increases?

- Nevada Hydro Sued PG&E because PG&E would not consider the project as part of a bid for electricity projects in the LA Basin (They lost - the suit was dismissed).

- Nevada Hydro previously bought and currently owns the following domains: STOPLEAPS.COM., STOPLEAPS.NET and STOPLEAPS.ORG. That's OK we have STOPLEAPS.INFO

- The City of Lake Elsinore has spent millions renovating the lake, with a new boat launch ramp and the beautiful Launch Pointe campsite location. Massive construction will not help.

- The project has been beaten back twice due to strong public opposition, a determination of economic unfeasability, and a declaration that it is not needed by CAISO yet Nevada Hydro keeps trying...

Having read what Nevada Hydro left out, please answer the following:

Can we send you occasional email communications regarding the progress of the LEAPS project opposition? You can always opt-out. *

Yes - Send me emails

No - I don't wan't emails

Are you willing to get actively involved in opposing LEAPS? *

Yes

No

Would you be willing to join FLACC (Forest Lake and Communities Coalition), the newly formed association dedicated to defeating LEAPS? There is no cost associated with membership. *

Yes

No

Were you previously aware of this project? *

Yes, I was already aware

No, I did not know about it

How did you find out about the project? *

What type of outreach did you receive from Nevada Hydro? *

Are you aware of any effort by Nevada Hydro to communicate this project to residents? *

Yes

No

Are you a resident or property owner in an area affected by this project? *

Yes, I live in the area

No, I live outside the area

Most congestion caused by this project will affect Grand Avenue in Lakeland Village and Ortega Highway. Are you a commuter that would be adversely impacted by this project? *

Yes

No

Given the information provided, do you support the LEAPS project? *

Why maybe? What is the deciding factor? *

I need more information

Other Other

What is the main reason you would support LEAPS? *

Lake Water Quality Improvement

Complying with California's renewable energy mandates

Assisting California in managing energy demand fluctuations

Adding a water supply at the top of the mountain

Other Other

What is the main reason you would oppose LEAPS? *

Do you feel Nevada Hydro has addressed and offered to mitigate area residents' concerns about this project? *

Yes

No

Do you feel Nevada Hydro is acting in the best interest of the community? *

Yes

No

Do you feel Nevada Hydro has been honest in its communications with the public? *

Yes

No

Do you feel Nevada Hydro has withheld important negative information about the project to the detriment of local residents? *

Yes

No

Do you feel government officials have been responsive on this topic? *

Yes

No

Name any elected officials you would like to single out for either supporting or opposing this project:

What are you willing to do to participate as a volunteer? *

Please use this space to express your support or opposition to this project. Responses may be shared with elected officials and may be published. Your name and personal information will not be shared.

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Please provide the contact information below. Your information will only be used for purposes of validation and outreach in connection with the LEAPS project and will not be sold or used in any other manner.

First Name *

Last Name *

Street Address *

Address Line 2

City *

State *

Zip Code *

Phone Number *

Email Address *

Please sign so we know you're not a robot... *

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