[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 119 (Thursday, September 19, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 5409 ``THE CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST 
           RESPONSIBLE ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION ACT OF 2002''

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARRELL E. ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 19, 2002

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I would thank my colleagues Congressman 
Calvert, Congressman Hunter, Congressman Cunningham, Congressman 
Radanovich, Congressman Doolittle and Congresswoman Bono for their 
commitment to meeting southern California's energy demands and their 
continued concern for the communities and property owners affected by 
the need for a new transmission line.
  The Cleveland National Forest Responsible Electricity Transmission 
Act of 2002 will create a corridor through the Trabuco Ranger District 
of the Cleveland National Forest, whereby a 500 KV transmission line 
can be built to connect the Valley-Serrano transmission line (owned by 
Southern California Edison) to the Telega-Escondido transmission line 
(owned by San Diego Gas & Electric). The approval of this corridor will 
greatly strengthen a fragile California transmission grid while 
protecting hundreds of homes and businesses from condemnation.
  This bill is the result of discussions and negotiations among Members 
of Congress and other interested parties for nearly a year. Our 
legislation follows the basic premise that we should utilize lands set 
aside for public use before condemning private property for a 
transmission line. Nearly 97 percent of the corridor created by our 
bill will utilize public lands. SDG&E, the utility attempting to secure 
a corridor for a transmission line, has pledged their support for our 
legislation in order to avoid making a decision that would be 
detrimental to the people of the Temecula Valley.
  Our bill will do something else that California desperately needs. It 
will allow a local water district to connect a new source of power to 
the grid.
  The proposed hydro electric facility on Lake Elsinore, adjacent to 
the corridor, will enable the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District 
to place 600 megawatts of green peaker power onto the transmission grid 
when the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) needs it.
  In order for this project to become a reality, our legislation needs 
to become law. California needs both improved electrical infrastructure 
and a greater generation capacity: our bill is a step towards achieving 
these goals.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here talking about this common sense 
legislation. 1, along with my colleagues, look forward to working with 
Chairman Barton and Chairman Tauzin to make this important legislation 
law.

                          ____________________