Rural power

Re “U.S. to have a say in power line siting,” Oct. 3

Eminent domain attorney Gideon Kanner said, regarding objections by desert and forest community residents to power lines, “This is another example of NIMBYism writ large.”

This arrogant, dismissive remark about those who want to live in rural areas is typical. Perhaps in the interest of the “greater good,” electricity generation plants should be placed in the middle of upscale urban developments. After all, they use more electricity than rustic, rural homes, and it would eliminate miles of transmission facilities.

Rural residents often make great adjustments in power consumption so they can enjoy a different quality of life. They certainly do not “jump in their car. . . and run to the local Starbucks,” not when that would take an hour and there probably is no Starbucks to run to.

As a rural resident who has a solar-powered home, I propose that we encourage, through rebates and development requirements, solar installations on every home and building in California.

Judy Reinsma

Saugus