Supervisor Metz approves Sunrise Powerlink through the Cleveland National Forest

Not that I am terribly surprised, but I was hopeful that Forest Supervisor Metz would show some backbone and stand up to SDG&E / Sempra.

Unfortunately this was not the case and Supervisor Metz caved to political and corporate pressure and agreed to let SDG&E route the Sunrise Powerlink through the Cleveland National Forest.

This is a sad day for San Diego and anyone who likes to get out and enjoy nature with out the tell-tale signs of man.

The character of the Cleveland National Forest will be forever changed due to corporate greed, deceitful tactics and the unwillingness of the US Forest Service to put their foot down and say "No"!

Worst part is that Metz had to adjust the Cleveland National Forest "Management Plan" to allow the line, an action he claims was "insignificant". 

Like Mary said , "I'm sure Grover Cleveland is rolling over in his grave!" 

I am hopeful this will get stopped in the courts.

Here is a copy of the letter I sent in last month. 

Full Story at Sign On San Diego 

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Should Ocotillo lose 15,000 acres to concrete and steel ?

In the small desert town of Ocotillo, CA the winds may be changing.

Pattern Energy, a San Francisco based energy company is proposing to turn 15,000 acres of public lands bordering the Anza Borrego Desert State Park into a 561 megawatt wind farm with 240 wind turbines.

Unfortunately for the small town of Ocotillo and the Imperial Valley, little would be gained as the power would be funneled to San Diego over the infamous Sunrise Powerlink.

John Calaway, Pattern Energy director of wind development states that the area would benefit from 400 construction jobs during the two year construction period of the Ocotillo Express Wind Farm.

Let me get this straight, Pattern Energy is "promising" 2 years of construction jobs and in return residents and visitors alike get to stare at 240 four hundred foot tall wind towers for the rest of their lives? I don't know about you but I think Pattern Energy is getting the better end of that deal.

If you do the research you will find that communities from California to Maine have been fighting industrial wind farms for years. Concerns over noise levels, destruction of views and effects on wildlife have prompted communities nationwide to oppose projects such as these.

Once again our public lands are under attack from corporations looking to fast track these projects with little public feedback. The race for alternative energy should not come at the expense of the environment.
Why are we tearing up our fragile deserts in the name of green energy when instead we should be covering our homes, businesses and parking garages with solar panels ?

Stay tuned for more updates.....

Bob B.

Ocotillo Express Wind Farm Draft Plan of Development (1.51 mb)

Alpine residents have more questions about the Sunrise Powerlink

SDG&E has scheduled a series of "Community Council" meetings in communities that will be affected by construction of the Sunrise Powerlink. In their words the purpose is to "keep the community informed so that accurate information is available and inconveniences can be kept to a minimum."

If Alpine is any indication of "keeping the community informed" then SDG&E has not been doing its' due diligence. Many Alpine residents who attended Monday nights Community Council meeting still feel like they are being left in the dark about the  undergrounding portion which will run under Alpine Blvd.  There were questions with regards to EMFs which SDG&E could not answer, as well as concerns over where the two million gallons of water required for the project would come from.

Regardless of what SDG&E states, the construction of the Sunrise Powerlink will have a devastating effect on the town of Alpine. No amount of mitigation will undo the damage that two years of construction will have on the businesses in Alpine and the quality of life for its' residents. 

News Crews ready for the fireworks	Alpine sings "We don't want the Sunrise Powerlink"
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SDG&E's Jose Lopez explains the undergrounding process to a tough Alpine crowd

The East County Community Action Coalition is getting the word out

I spent a couple hours Saturday, helping the ECCCAC get the word out to members of the Lakeside community about the Sunrise Powerlink . The East County Community Action Committee has been doing a great job of informing back country communities about the destructive path of this project.

What amazed me was the number of people who had no knowledge of the project and its' route through El Monte Valley and other protected, open-spaced habitats of San Diego's backcountry.

Many east county residents feel they have been blindsided by SDG&E and are now having this project dumped in their backyard. One attendee pointed out that he was going to be able to see 150' towers from every window of his Alpine residence due to its' path around his house.

It is great to see the dedication the ECCCAC is putting into fighting the Sunrise Powerlink. They are working untold hours attending community meetings, speaking and distributing literature to make sure that everyone is aware of the project.

For up to date news regarding the project check their website here.

Alpine says "We don't want the Sunrise Powerlink"

Although the Sunrise Powerlink has been re-routed to avoid the Anza Borrego Desert State Park, the battle continues for many residents of San Diego's backcountry. One such community, Alpine is being faced with having 6 miles of  12 ' trenches dug along its' main artery to accomodate the 2 parallel 230KV lines. Representatives from SDG&E  state that the "undergrounding"  of the Alpine portion of the Sunrise Powerlink, will take two years to install; one year for the conduits and another year to pull and splice the massive cables.

According to San Diego County supervisor Dianne Jacob, Alpine will be "significantly impacted" by the construction.

Many Alpine residents who attended last nights town hall meeting expressed concerns with traffic flow obstruction, EMFs from the powerlines, noise from the construction and the disruption of businesses along the route.

One particular Alpine resident, Michelle Steinbuck, questioned the intelligence of routing the two 230KV lines in such close proximity to the Alpine Elementary School.

I left the meeting with a renewed hope that the Sunrise Powerlink is not a done deal. There is staunch opposition from backcountry residents who feel this project is being ramrodded down their throats.

Currently the BLM approval of the Sunrise Powerlink is being challenged in court, and the U.S. Forest Service has not issued a decision on whether or not to allow the line to go through federal lands.

If you haven't contacted Cleveland National Forest Supervisor William Metz please take the time to send him an email at wmetz@fs.fed.us. Tell him that Forest Service lands should not be sacrificed for this unnecessary project.

If you prefer regular mail Supervisor Metz can be reached at;
Supervisor William Metz
Cleveland National Forest
10845 Rancho Bernardo Rd.
Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92127

SDG&E using threats and coercion to force their way onto private property

Even though the legality of the Sunrise Powerlink is still being questioned, SDG&E is wasting no time in sending survey crews out along the proposed route.
In some cases,  according to this KUSI video they are using threats and coercion to gain access to private property.

Check out this "Turko Files" video from KUSI (You need Flash Player)

Free Property Rights Workshop for those in the path of the Sunrise Powerlink

Even though the Anza Borrego Desert State park has been spared from the destructive path of the Sunrise Powerlink ; the battle is far from over. 

SDG&E's Southern route goes through portions of Cleveland National Forest as well as land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management. Formerly untouched areas such as the Carrizo Gorge Wilderness Area will forever be marred by 150 foot steel towers.

Wilderness aside, what about the East County residents who live in the rural San Diego backcountry? It is estimated that the Sunrise Powerlink will affect 3000 east San Diego county residents. This destructive impact can never be mitigated.

That is where the ECCAC comes in. On June 11 , the EEAC along with the Protect Our Communities Foundation and Backcountry Against Dumps will be hosting a free property rights legal workshop for affected property owners. The workshop will be conducted by knowledgeable attorneys who are familiar with the issues involved.

Impacted property owners can register for the workshop by contacting the ECCAC via email at info@eastcoutyaction.org or call 858-627-1426

Download Workshop Flyer (PDF 89.94 kb)

Fundraiser to 'Sunset the Sunrise Powerlink' this weekend.

If you are local to San Diego don't forget to stop by Hazy Meadows Ranch in Lakeside on Saturday May 30 from 11:00AM to 4:30 PM.

The fine folks over at the East County Community Action Coalition are putting on a awesome fund raiser to help with the legal expenses in the fight against the Sunrise Powerlink. There will be fantastic live entertainment during the event along with some great raffle prizes.

The Hazy Meadow Ranch is located at  15466 El Monte Rd in Lakeside. Please see flyer below for more information.

Download Flyer (135.72 kb)

"Sempra is sold on Solar" article

I just caught this article in the San Diego Union Tribune giving Sempra a big pat on the back for expanding its' solar presence in the Nevada desert.

While this looks all warm, fuzzy and green on the surface we have to take a step back and look at the shortcomings of this approach.

1. Once again the Desert is being used as a sacrifice zone.
2. We will need more transmission lines to get this power to the population centers.
3. It maintains Sempra's control of energy production and distribution to the consumer.

Environmental issues aside, we as consumers should be asking our politicians, "Why can't we have financial incentives in the form of rebates and buyback credits to install local PV technology on our homes and businesses?"
Currently solar pioneers can at best break even and they are forced to give any excess energy back to the grid for free.

Maybe if this was addressed it would negate the need for these massive solar installs in the Deserts of the southwest.

Bob

Sunrise Powerlink SDG&E Town Hall Meeting in Alpine

I drove out to Alpine after work to attend the town hall information meeting that SDG&E was holding to answer questions about the controversial Sunrise Powerlink.

SDG&E had all the bases covered here. Besides cookies and drinks, residents could get color GIS printouts of where the line would run in reference to their property. You simply had to give the technician your parcel number and voila you get a map printout with an ugly green line bisecting it.  You know green for"Green Energy".

Many residents seemed caught off guard with various portions of the approved route especially with how close it ran to some property lines.

None were more surprised then Rick and Candy of Lakeside who learned that the powerline was to be routed directly behind their house in Lakeside obstructing their scenic mountain view. They also were surprised to learn that SDG&E had marked a access road/staging area on an easment  adjacent to their property. According to Rick this was the first time he had heard this.

It is unfortunate that East County residents are being asked to bear the brunt of this project. The burning question that comes to mind is, "What if this was suppose to go through Del Mar or Rancho Santa Fe?". How far do you think this project would have gotten?
My guess is that it would not have gotten out of the planning stages.

Bob B.

Leucadia

 Pictures are here.

SDG&E holds community meetings to sell the Sunrise Powerlink

In an effort to win over East County ratepayers , SDG&E opened up a month long series of informational meetings in various East County locations.

 Unfortunately for SDG&E  the first meeting in Lakeside was met with fierce opposition.
Local residents are concerned with the destruction of views in the pristine  El Monte Valley as well as the El Capitan Open Space Preserve. 

Is this really a place for a series of 150' tall metal towers ? No, particularly for a powerline that is not needed, is not guaranteed to carry energy from renewable sources, and damages the environment.

There are many alternatives for meeting our energy demands here in San Diego. Stringing a gigantic extension cord from the backcountry to the coast is yesterdays technology and has merely won out due to corporate greed.

Up Coming Meetings

Campo  |  Mountain Empire Community Center

Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 5:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.

San Diego  |  Scripps Ranch Library

Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 5:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.

Alpine  |  Alpine Community Center

Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 5:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.

Imperial Valley  |  El Centro Community Center

Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 5:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.

Jacumba/Boulevard  |  Jacumba Highland Senior Center

Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 5:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m

Sunrise Powerlink has been approved by the CPUC

The CPUC in its' ultimate wisdom (read with sarcasm) voted 4-1 to allow SDG&E to build the Sunrise Powerlink along the proposed southern route. The 123 mile transmission line dubbed the "Renewable Energy Superhighway" by supporters will not even be required to carry clean renewable energy.

In all fairness I should say the one nay vote was Commissioner Grueneich who proposed that SDG&E be required to transmit power from renewable energy sources over the line. SDG&E refused this proposal as did President Peevey whose decision won. 

So what does this mean for we as San Diegans?

1. We get to pay 2 Billion dollars for the construction of this massive project which will increase our rates.
   
2. We get to sit back and watch as our pristine back country is scarred by massive transmission lines.
3. We become more dependent on foreign energy sources whether from Mexico or Indonesia
4. We become further reliant on a large utility company.

Urge Governor Schwarzenegger to oppose the Sunrise Powerlink in any form

I am being a bit lazy here but here is a copy of the Sierra Club's smart energy E-Letter that was sent to me. Rather than me reiterating the hilights of this letter I though I would present it to you whole.  The email urges everyone to pick up a phone and dial Governor Schwarzenegger's office and tell him you oppose the Sunrise Powerlink.

The number is 916-445-2841. 

You will need to call during business hours and most likely you will talk to one of his assistants. Tell him that you oppose the Sunrise Powerlink in any form.No northern route, no southern route, we want in-basin power generation preferably using photovoltaics.

Partial victory in the battle to stop the Sunrise Powerlink

Friday the administrative judge recommended that the CPUC reject any form of the Sunrise Powerlink stating:

• Sunrise Powerlink is not needed to meet our energy needs
  
• Will not save ratepayers any money and would in fact raise rates
  
• Would have unmitigatable environmental effects
  

Hmm that sounds pretty close to what we have been saying for the past two + years.

While this sounds like a total victory for Sunrise Powerlink opponents, CPUC commissioner Dian Grueneich on the other hand argued that the SPL is needed to meet California's mandated goals on reducing greenhouse gases. While she denies the northern route through Anza Borrego, she approves the southern route, provided SDG&E can prove it is transporting renewable energy.

SDG&E feels the heat and opts to turn off the power.

For tens of thousands of San Diego back country residents turning on a radio, light or TV may not be that easy when the Santa Ana winds begin to blow. This controversial proposal comes on the heels of CalFires/CPSD  investigation which blames SDG&E for 2 of the horrific firestorms of last October.

SDG&E wants to amend wording in "Rule 14" so they can turn off the power when necessitated by safety or emergency concerns. (their wording) 

I attended the CPUC public comments hearing regarding San Diego's 2007 wildfires. While this hearing was a bit smaller than previous hearings regarding SDG&E's Sunrise Powerlink proposal it did bring together some key players such as Dianna Jacobson, State Senator Christine Kehoe,  Michael Shames and others.
A lot of good arguments were brought up before the commission. One of my favorites was  "SDG&E wants to run power through our communities and not to our communities."  This was in reference to SDG&E proposing to cut off power in the back country during high wind situations.

Obviously SDG&E does not want a repeat of last years devastating firestorms and this seems to be the quick solution. Maybe we all need to step back and ask ourselves ,"Is the fire prone San Diego backcountry a place to string powerlines?" I will tell you what, let's maintain the lines we have, don't add any new transmission lines and help home owners become energy self-sufficient by passing Bills such as AB 1920 (see below).

AB 1920: the California Solar Surplus Act of 2008 would allow solar system owners to sell surplus electricity at the full retail rate to other utility customers. Currently this surplus is basically given away back to SDG&E who in turn can turn around and sell it.

Bob

Penninsular Bighorn Sheep threatened again

As if massive 150' tall steel towers going through their habitat isn't enough; now the Penninsular Bighorn Sheep are being threatened by the very agency designed to protect them.  In a nutshell the Fish and WildLife Service wants to de-designate over half of the habitat that was set aside to protect the endangered Bighorn.
Use the link below to tell the Fish and Wildlife Service that you oppose this decision..

You can read Larry Hougue's excellent BLOG post here.

Tell the Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the currently designated habitat for the Bighorn (Click Add Comments link)

Ranchita Rocks to save Anza Borrego

Mary and I volunteered to help out Kathleen Beck's People's Powerlink Booth at the Ranchita Rocks festival. 

Ranchita Rocks is a 3 day music festival whose underlying theme is "Green" solutions and raising money to stop the Sunrise Powerlink. People come from all over the country to camp out on Carolyn Morrow's beautiful 180 acre farm in Ranchita, listen to music and enjoy the festivities.

We arrived an hour late (thanks Google Maps) and found Kathleen and Jim setting up their People's Powerlink table. In case you aren't aware, Peoples Powerlink has been a long time opponent of the Sunrise Powerlink  and maintains an excellent web page with up to date news.

To say Ranchita Rocks is a glimpse into "Woodstock" or "Burning Man" wouldn't do it justice. Interspersed with the dreadlocks, incense and hula-hoops, there were booths with information on alternative energy solutions such as solar/photovoltaics and wind power. It was great to see the diverse group of festivall attendees all getting together in the name energy independence.

Kathleen's "Declaration of Energy Independence" was a creative way to get people to think outside of the box. Just because a mega-corporation like Sempra tells us that the Sunrise Powerlink is the only way to get power to the people does not mean it is the best answer. There are better less damaging, innovative solutions, that do not involve desecrating the San Diego back country.

We had a great time meeting new faces, listening to music and learning how to hula-hoop again. 

More to come.....

Check out the Photo Album

CPUC believes SDG&E has lied regarding Sunrise Powerlink facts

Union Tribune Article Here!

No surprise since SDG&E's whole Sunrise Powerlink campaign has been based on lies and misrepresentations. This article is in reference to one of the alternate southern routes.

Facts that SDG&E does not want you to know.

• San Diego does not need the Sunrise Powerlink to meet it's energy needs.
• Sunrise Powerlink's main objective is to get fossil fuel generated power from Mexico to Southern Orange County and Los Angeles.
• 500 KW towers are harmful to wildlife, ugly and help make lot's of $$$ for SDG&E

Sunrise Powerlink decision delayed until end of year.

In yet another set back for SDG&E the California Public Utilities Commission has ordered a "re-circulation of the draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Sunrise Powerlink."   According to the Union Tribune article the CPUC would like further in depth analysis  of the technical feasibility and the economic benefits of the various alternatives cited in the DEIR.

What does this mean for us?

• The CPUC's decision is delayed to the end of the year and not the end of the summer as was orignally planned. This gives us more time to get the word out to the public, politicians and others that the Sunrise PowerLink is not in our best interests environmentally, economically or technically.

You can read the Union Tribune Article here.

 Stay tuned for more opportunities to participate in stopping this project and plan on attending  Ranchita Rocks at the end of the summer.

Bob

Sunrise Powerlink Final CPUC Hearing

You would think that the Monday 1PM schedule would deter many Sunrise PowerLink opponents from making the trek out to Borrego Springs for the final CPUC hearing. 
Not true!
This is a passionate group of grassroots people who don't want unnecessary 500 KW powerlines strung through protected California State Park land and pristine San Diego back country.

This hearing was different in a couple ways. First it was the only time that 4 of the 5 CPUC Commisioners would be present and second it was the last chance for the public to express their concerns, opinions, and views to the CPUC.

While most attendees such as myself merely had to endure  drizzle, thick fog and road construction to get to the hearing, Dennis Trafecanty , a Sunrise Powerlink opponent, ran 50 miles overnight throught the Desert  to arrive at the Borrego Springs Resort by 12 noon. How is that for making a statement ?!

Another hilight was the banner that the Sierra Club put together with all of the postcards that were collected at Earth Day. During Micah's public comment a group of us walked the banner in (all 27' of it) and paraded it in front of the commissioners. Pretty fun to do and I think it was very effective.

I am glad there were so many people that were willing to drive out to Borrego to voice their opinions against this ridiculous proposal. Besides the core group I am starting to notice some new faces so it looks like the word is getting out. Now we wait until we hear from the CPUC. They are expected to make a decision sometime this summer so check your local papers and the Smart Energy Website for updates.

Bob