LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- Las Cruces' growing East Mesa will need more infrastructures, to make sure the city can have a power supply when it is needed. But residents in the area of a proposed substation are concerned about transmission lines around their homes.

El Paso Electric is trying to find the best place to install 115 kilovolt transmission lines.

They would connect two other substations.

But residents in one of the neighborhoods involved said they have several concerns.

One map residents of the Dos Suenos subdivision were given, displays red, blue and green dashed lines. The lines show where the transmission lines could go. Darla Wattier started researching how it could affect her neighborhood and her health.

“There are increases of childhood leukemia. It is 50 percent or greater depending on how close you are to these. And it is not only childhood leukemia, but adult brain cancer and miscarriages in women,” said Darla Wattier of the Dos Suenos Subdivision.

She said her grandfather died of brain cancer. The research scares her because of his illness.

“He had three brain tumors. I think ‘My gosh’ he lived right near and was constantly under a power line,” said Wattier.

Power lines nearby have already kept Wattier from buying a home in another neighborhood.

Other neighbors worry about their property too.

“Values of property are already going down. If you take a 25 percent cut in your property value, we're looking at just that much more of a cut with these lines.” said Kevin Kay of the Dos Suenos Subdivision.

Kay said he was told that by putting the lines underground, the cost would grow nearly ten times, and be passed on to those living there.

Residents are wondering if city council members can help them fight the lines from moving in.

“I'm not sure when it will actually go through the council and to what extent council will participate in these issues. I say that because El Paso Electric is regulated by the public regulation commission. They are main public governing body,” said Las Cruces City council member Gil Jones.

Jones said a newer map shows the lines being considered more to the north and farther away from those neighborhoods.

He said the residents concerns are being addressed.

“At the meeting a suggestion was made for a fourth option that were in the process of evaluating right now. We're in the process of studying that fourth option.

Residents of the Dos Suenos subdivision and other neighborhoods are holding a meeting Thursday evening to discuss their options.

It will be held at the VFW Post 6917 At 5845 Bataan Memorial West. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Preliminary plans call for the lines to be in place, where ever they are decided, by 2011.