Stephanie Croston

    As the Nebraska Public Power District tries to finalize the route for its new 356 kilovolt (kV) power line through Seward County, a group of citizens is trying to persuade them to reconsider.
     "We're concerned because of the route," Pat Reed of Pleasant Dale said.
     Reed and his group have suggested an alternate route for the line that would follow the existing line down the half-section line between 406th and 392nd roads to Tamora, go east on Alvo Road, then go south between 350th and 336th roads to the interstate, where it would go east to Lincoln.
     NPPD's route would turn east at the Seward/Butler County line and then go south between 266th and 252nd roads, winding its way through the countryside.
     "NPPD needs to evaluate the route that affects the least number of people," Reed said Oct. 25.
     Both Reed, who is president of Capital Tower and Communications, Inc., in Waverly, and Cyndee Loos of Lincoln, who works for Reed, said they would like to see NPPD choose a route that would impact the fewest number of people and properties. In addition, they would like to see the NPPD make a sensible, long-term solution.
     One primary concern for the citizens' group is possible health problems from the electromagnetic field created by the power line.
     Although there is no scientific proof that a major power line like this would affect the health of people in its vicinity, Reed said, it is still a fairly new technology and has not been completely studied yet.
     "At minimum we know there are issues," Loos said.
     "It's Russian roulette at best," Reed said.
     In addition, the citizens' proposed route would miss Pawnee Lake and Twin Lakes and an endangered plant that is found there, Loos said.
     In comparing the two routes, the NPPD route runs within 300 feet of five homes, between 300 and 500 feet from 10 homes and more than 500 feet from 30 homes.
     The citizens' route is not closer than 300 feet to any home. It is 300 to 500 feet from six homes and more than 500 feet from 24 homes.
     The NPPD's route includes nine to 10 turns, which cost $250,000 each. The citizens' route has six.
     Another concern for the citizens group is that the NPPD has moved up its construction schedule by one year and spent $10 million on engineering.
     "They're in such a hurry," Reed said.
     The Power Review Board has the final say on the project, but Reed said it likely wouldn't stop it.
     In addition, NPPD has the power of eminent domain, which means it would be able to take property if the property owner can't reach an agreement.
     The group is also concerned because the NPPD's route goes through part of the city of Seward's two-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction, limiting the city's potential expansion, according to Loos.
     "We would like to see them use due diligence," Reed said.
     He said the citizens' proposed route may or may not be the best solution, but he would like the NPPD to at least consider it.
     "They need to think this out," Loos said. "They're not listening."
     "If there is a better route, I would like to see it," Reed said.