Photo camparison - Power stations at AME and Macom

[EagleDad]

Recently I was asked this question by someone who is in favor of the AME site (and always has been), given the new developments of a reduced price possibly linked to Macom:

I took a look at both Electrical stations at AME and Macom.

They sure seem to be about the same size....I would even go as far as to say I thought the Macom one was a little larger.
So if Electrical is a concern, it should be there also. Agree?

My wife also asked me a similar question (good for her).

I thought this to be an entirely fair and valid question - as many of you know there is also an electrical substation near the Macom site. So, being a recent fan of photos to tell the story I did a little research.

Below, are two unretouched aerial photos, both taken from Google maps. Ther are zoomed to the exact same level, and cropped to the exact same size in pixels. On the left is Macom, on the right is AME:


Here they are top and bottom, with Macom on the top:



So I would have to say, that barring scientific data showing EMF readings mappped on each site, I am more comfortable with the Macom site. It seems to have a lower density of doohickeys.

I do think Hamman is a better site than either of these, with Brach Brodie being above all. Hamman and Brach Brodie do not have nearby power substations.

[Arch]

Fair question, and yes both are hazards and should be considered hazards. One looks more cluttered than the other (AME being more cluttered) but I do not know if that makes a difference in the EMF. One could be an 'older' way of doing things that required more parts and pieces and the one in the south could be of 'newer' materials (less) to do the same function. Readings from both should be taken into account and compared to do an apples to apples way of looking at them.

As for Hamman, is that a old landfill immediately to the east of the property? Um.. EW. Don't they produce and need to release methane as the garbage decomposes over time?

BB and Wagner seem to be the 'least' hazards. I would put Wagner at a higher hazard due to Aero Estates (flight path). Aero Estates does not have a E/W runway and the approach vectors from the N/S strip there keeps BB out of any flight paths from what I can tell.

[EagleDad]

archwinsome said:

As for Hamman, is that a old landfill immediately to the east of the property? Um.. EW. Don't they produce and need to release methane as the garbage decomposes over time?

I don't know arch, but I can vouch for the production of methane due to decomposition over time - Just ask my kids, they'll tell you this 'ol man produces too much methane already ;D ;D

Lightness aside, I'm sure we would all appreciate some hard data both sites.

[wvhsparent]

Thanks for that ED. I take credit for the above question.

Also is that ComEd or Naperville Electric? The Macom one sure looks newer and how much expansion is planned or possible there?

I also heard there is no water suppy at Hamman Farms, and extending exisiting water line would not be possible. There would need to be a water tower built to handle any development.

[rew]

Brach Brodie can open in 2010, for $3M more, we are already $20M "over budget", no increased commutes, no radiation, no RR tracks, no boundary wars.

Stop the MADNESS and build it as we voted!!!

[gatormom]

rew said:

Brach Brodie can open in 2010, for $3M more, we are already $20M "over budget", no increased commutes, no radiation, no RR tracks, no boundary wars.

Stop the MADNESS and build it as we voted!!!

That is 3M more than the district has. As it is, people are getting pitchforks out for the funding of this school. Do you think the public might be just a little upset if the district spent 12.5M more than AME would cost with the same opening?

[rj]

wvhsparent said:

Also is that ComEd or Naperville Electric? The Macom one sure looks newer and how much expansion is planned or possible there?

The macom substation is owned by Com Ed. The City of Naperville tried to do a land swap with Com Ed as that is where they wanted the future Star Line train station to be sited, but Com Ed didn't want to move the sub station.

I also heard there is no water suppy at Hamman Farms, and extending exisiting water line would not be possible. There would need to be a water tower built to handle any development.

It appears that the water main is being extended as we speak. There has been a crew digging and installing pipe along Rt. 59 north of 103rd St. to the Wagner property. The City of Naperville has a water storage facility at the SE corner of 103rd and 59.

[wvhsparent]

rj said:

wvhsparent said:

Also is that ComEd or Naperville Electric? The Macom one sure looks newer and how much expansion is planned or possible there?

The macom substation is owned by Com Ed. The City of Naperville tried to do a land swap with Com Ed as that is where they wanted the future Star Line train station to be sited, but Com Ed didn't want to move the sub station.

I also heard there is no water suppy at Hamman Farms, and extending exisiting water line would not be possible. There would need to be a water tower built to handle any development.

It appears that the water main is being extended as we speak. There has been a crew digging and installing pipe along Rt. 59 north of 103rd St. to the Wagner property. The City of Naperville has a water storage facility at the SE corner of 103rd and 59.

Wrong City...The Hamman Farms is Aurora, not Naperville, therefore whatever Naperville is doing water wise, has no affect on Hamman Farms.

[rew]

Money has never been my priority, but the AME is $12M less on paper, with the $6.5M - 25 acres counted as sold, no guarantee, $5M max walkaway costs, no guarantee and no bids on the project at that site, although they are already estimating that the AME site construction is more expensive.

[hillmom]

Eagledad you rope me in again - I believe the Electric Junction - Eola had substantial additions in 1998 when the line was extended East. There have been updates as recent as the past few years for equipment exchange if my memory serves me correctly. Anticipate additions at Macom - the design and space is not accidental!

I understand Macom has some litigation issues with one of the other property owners on that site - Yeah lets do that again! We know that is a mistake!

[rj]

wvhsparent said:

rj said:

Wrong City...The Hamman Farms is Aurora, not Naperville, therefore whatever Naperville is doing water wise, has no affect on Hamman Farms.

Oops, my bad. Got my farms mixed up.

[EagleDad]

wvhsparent said:

I also heard there is no water suppy at Hamman Farms, and extending exisiting water line would not be possible. There would need to be a water tower built to handle any development.

As we're talking about the power stations at Macom and AME on this thread, I'd rather we address Hamman on it's thread and stay on topic.

[yeson321]

rew said:

Money has never been my priority, but the AME is $12M less on paper, with the $6.5M - 25 acres counted as sold, no guarantee, $5M max walkaway costs, no guarantee and no bids on the project at that site, although they are already estimating that the AME site construction is more expensive.

I totally agree. There are less risks for BB and that should come with a premium, one that the SB was willing to previously pay and one that many want them to pay now. There are unknown risks at AME that could eat away at any potential savings and the opening date. To be a fair comparison to the BB cost, there should be an estimated worse case scenario margin added to AME.

[EagleDad]

So are we talking about theoretical unknown expansion at the Macom electrical substation, or what is there that we can see today? Unless people have actual knowledge an links of expansion is is hypothetical.

Does everyone agree that in the photos I have shown there is substantially less electrical equipment in quantity? Does anyone refute that?

I am certain that if a nearby school went in at either site, our local city representatives and school board would put the brakes on any further expansion.

[EagleDad]

You guys really don't want me to sit down and do digital edge enhancement and count and circle the doohickeys and wires on these photos - the results will not be pretty.

Likewise a side-by side of similar photos taken from the AME site (from the school location looking at the substation, standing right outside the substation) would not be a flattering comparison.