Stop Sunrise Powerlink

Carveacre Wind Caves

2009-05-18T17:42:00.000-07:00

This last weekend I hiked up with some neighbors to some natural stone wind caves above the Carveacre community. Even though I live within walking distance (a long walk), I had never even heard of them until the last month or so. It was quite beatiful, and I plan to return during a sunset and sunrise. On a clear day you can see Point Loma, Downtown San Diego, and the Pacific Ocean. You can also see Stonewall Peak, Cuyamaca Peak, Bell Bluff, Viejas Mountain, and El Cajon Mountain (El Cap) all in a row. The chaparral is thick and old, not having burned since the 1970 Kitchen Creek fire. To the north you see most of the Carveacre Community.

On the hike back down, I made a point to stop where one of SDG&E's survey stakes was placed, just off the trail a couple hundred feet. It was a stake for a helicopter pad for on of the towers that will be nearby.

This is a small part of what I am fighting to preserve. A small piece of nature that is unique and beautiful, and will be marred for generations to come.

Back in the Saddle

2009-05-09T17:19:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last post. Since that time I have traveled to Washington, DC and Philadelphia, then helped run the Sage and Songbirds Festival and Garden Tour in Alpine, and am currently in Orlando, FL. However, there is more activity than ever concerning the fight against the SRPL.

A recent article in the Union-Tribune leaves me hopeful that Supervisor Metz of the Cleveland National Forest will do the right thing and call for more Environmental studies of the project. When you look at how much is missing from the original EIR, which really focused mostly on the Northern Route, it seems obvious that the USFS should at least do this much (and they know they will face certain legal action if they do not).

There is so much going on elsewhere. ECCAC has scheduled a fundraiser in El Monte Valley on May 30, Denis Trafecanty did a benefit run of 50 miles today along the Pacific Crest Trail, and we are starting to work on presenting to smaller local groups within communities (such as Palo Verde Estates in Alpine) to help bring them up to speed with what is going on and how it will affect them.

I will start to write more frequently as I start to have more time, as there is a lot going on right now, and the more people we have out there talking about it, the better our chances.

Recall Arnold

2009-04-13T16:38:00.001-07:00

I wrote to the governor about a month ago telling him about my concern and outrage over the Sunrise Powerlink. Here's the response I got:

"Thank you for writing to me about San Diego Gas and Electric Company's (SDG&E) Sunrise Powerlink Project. I appreciate hearing from Californians about issues that are important to them.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved the construction of the Sunrise Powerlink Project on December 18, 2008, to promote renewable power, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve electric reliability in the San Diego Region. This project plays a critical role in California's efforts to achieve energy independence. It will deliver clean, renewable energy and open the door for additional green investments in the Imperial Valley at a time when our economy needs the help. This project will also improve the power grid's reliability and generate more than $100 million in ratepayer benefits every year. These are the types of big, bold projects that California needs to transition to a clean-energy future.

I'm pleased that the CPUC approved a route that will not only help the state meet our 33-percent renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals but also avoids destruction of the wilderness and recreational opportunities in the Anza-Borrego Desert State park and all tribal lands. SDG&E is required to implement significant relief measures to minimize the environmental impact of the project.

Again, thank you for taking the time to write. I value the comments of people like you who care about the future of California.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger"

Obviously no one actually read my letter, and they certainly don't value my comments. The part that really gets me is being please about avoiding the destruction of ABDSP and tribal lands. I guess the destruction of Cleveland National Forest, wilderness areas, designated scenic lands, BLM land, etc is okay. Actually the whole letter just really pisses me off.

CPUC Commissioner Talks Back

2009-04-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

At the Public Hearing regarding the Shut Off plan, when one of my neighbors was speaking, she mentioned that our area did not get the opportunity to participate in public hearings during the Sunrise Powerlink project. It was the only time the entire night that the commissioner talked back to someone, telling her that he was out here in Borrego Springs. It was appalling. Borrego Springs is nowhere near here, and the route they chose doesn't even go through there. Afterwards his assistant pulled her aside and the conversation gradually turned into, this community isn't wealthy and is not well represented. So now you know why we are getting the powerline.

Speaking of being "not well represented" some of the leaders of the "resistance" met with our congressman, Duncan Hunter (same name as his father who held the seat for many years). He was surprised to see that the power lines will go right by his mother's house (he didn't know?!?) and said he would write the forest service. However, it seems like the "not well represented" falls directly on his shoulders. We shouldn't have to be telling him NOW that he needs to do something. He should have been representing our community against SDG&E and SEMPRA. He should now be in the press talking about it. But he didn't then, and I don't believe he will now.

Hmmm, I wonder who his donors are...

Too Busy to Blog

2009-04-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

Wow, so much has happened in the last week. The meeting and tour with the lawyer was great. I will post photos soon of the route, and will add more as time goes on. I'm thinking about a project to do paintings of the landscapes that will be affected, and have overlays that will show how they will change if the SRPL is ever built. When I find the time...

The Town Hall meeting on Monday was great. We had about 500 people in attendance, and some inspiring speakers, particularly Dianne Jacob (SD County Supervisor) who is the only elected official that has been a vocal opponent of this project since its inception. My slide presentation went well and I had several people ask me for copies. We are hoping to put together a program where we can go to small groups and do a presentation and Q&A. There are so many communities that are affected by this and it's amazing that so many people still don't know.

I'll post later today about last nights public hearing regarding SDG&E's idiotic idea about turning off the power (and removing their liability) during high wind events. Going totally off the grid is sounding more and more appealing...

Field Trip

2009-04-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

Today several people from various East County organizations (Protect Our Communities, Backcounty Against the Dump, East County Community Action Coalition) are taking two of the lawyers working on the case on a tour of the route. I have been invited along as an "Alpine representative". It should be an interesting day, and I hope to learn a lot more about the legal battle we are facing, and what our chances are of winning. The lawyer for POC, BAD, and ECCAC is Stephen Volker, a former Sierra Club attorney who is based out of Oakland, CA. They wanted him to see the route to get a better idea of what it is he's working for.

I plan to take photos at our stops and will post them so readers will get a better idea of what we are trying to protect. It's not the best day for photography - cloudy, cool and windy, but maybe the sun will peek through to give me some dramatic shots. Stay tuned...

Is Big Solar a Good Idea?

2009-04-02T17:39:00.000-07:00

This sums it up nicely:

Problems with Big Desert Solar

Golden Eagles

2009-04-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

One of the impacts of the Sunrise Powerlink is on habitat. There are many plants and animals that will be adversely affected, but I think the most distressing is the Golden Eagle.

This comes directly from the EIR in reference to the route near my home:

Impact B-7H: Direct or indirect loss of golden eagle or direct lost of habitat (Class I)

As noted in section D.2.11, the golden eagle is very sensitive to human activity, especially in the vicinity of its nest site, and even distant construction activity could cause abandonment of a nest, subsequent reproductive failure, and continuing decline of the species. These impacts would be significant according to Significance Criteria 1e. (substantial adverse effect on the breeding success of the golden eagle) 1f. (directly or indirectly cause the mortality of a special status species) 1g. (result in the abandonment of migratory bird nests and/or eggs), and 1h. (result in take of bald or golden eagles, eagle eggs, or any part of an eagle). Human activity within 4,000 feet of a nest site is considered significant and not mitigatable to less than significant levels (Class I)...

There are three golden eagle nests along this part of the route, one within 4,000 feet and one within 1,500 feet. The sad thing is that we can't even use this as a reason to at least change the line in this area, because they have already considered it, and passed the project anyway. It is something we can use to get people eager to fight, though.

Spreading the Word

2009-03-31T16:07:00.000-07:00

We (we being the East County Community Action Coalition or ECCAC) have scheduled a town hall meeting on Monday, April 6 from 6-8 pm at the Community Center in Alpine. I hope it will serve a number of purposes. First, to educate those people who have just learned about the SRPL. Second to let them know what they can do. Finally, I hope to have a packed house for the media to show how many people are against this. The hard part is getting the word out.

I have had nothing but good news on the "get the word out" front. Today I've given about 100 flyers to two different people to distribute through their neighborhoods, I've had an email forwarded to two large residential communities in Alpine, and a new ally has gotten 1500 flyers to go home with the elementary school student tomorrow! I'm really optimistic that we will have standing room only in a room that holds almost 700 people.

Now I just have to get up the nerve to talk to them...

Blogging Day 1

2009-03-31T10:04:00.000-07:00

This is something I thought I would never do; start a blog. However, I feel like I need to have an outlet somewhere to vent my frustration about the Sunrise Powerlink. I've tried for two weeks to get a website up, to no avail, so here I am.

A little history. I just found out about 3 weeks ago that SDG&E's Sunrise Powerlink project (a 123 mile long transmission line from Imperial County to San Diego) would be going right by my house. Of course I was outraged. How could I have not known about this? I knew the project was in the works, and that a lot of people were fighting to keep it out of Anza Borrego Desert State Park. I had heard something once about an alternate route that went south, but no one I knew of was concerned about that (turns out I was wrong). After two plus years, and a 7000+ page EIR, the Environmentally Superior (ha ha) Southern Route was approved on December 18, 2008. On January 20 the BLM approved the project on BLM land. And now here we are.

My initial sadness at the proximity of an industrial 150' tower on the hill outside my bedroom window has turned into outrage as I have learned more. That's what this blog will be about - what I have learned, and am learning every day. Also about the amazing people who have been fighting this for 3 years, and those of use who are just joining the cause.