A major construction support installation by Southern California Edison on the west end of Twentynine Palms is raising eyebrows. Over the past few months land was cleared, temporary buildings installed, and dozens of high-tech line trucks have been staged. The facility at the substation on Highway 62 and Dorth Place is called a “lay down yard,” an area cleared for the temporary storage of equipment and supplies. City Manager Frank Luckino said it was needed for Edison work relating to fire prevention. He said no permits were required as they already owned the land and are not adding anything electrical. The controversy is over the two intensely bright lights that literally light up the sky near the installation all night. Neighbors say the lights are so excessively bright it is like daylight in the immediate area. Drivers are complaining about the bright lights causing them to have to squint and impairing their vision on the road. The intense lights shining up into the sky are also a clear violation of the City’s night-sky ordinance. Luckino said he would ask Edison about the lighting.
