Say a clean energy future is better for our wallets, our health, and averting climate change impacts
SanDiego350.org (SD350) opposes a preliminary decision reached 1/6/14 by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to approve the Pio Pico Power Plant to be located in Otay Mesa. Nestor, San Diego resident Ken Brucker stated, “These industries have been polluting my neighborhood, giving my neighbors dirty air. Children are the casualties of their search for more profits.” The group said that the proposed $1.6 billion power plant would lock County residents into paying for dirty fossil fuel power that is unnecessary for the next 20-30 years. And that price tag doesn’t even include the cost of the energy. Alternatively, investing resources into renewables and energy efficiency could provide any potentially necessary power while reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and disease-causing air pollution. From day one the plant will significantly exceed the EPA’s proposed limits on new power plant carbon emissions, and will make it more difficult to meet California’s carbon reduction targets.
“This proposed plant is a giveaway to SDG&E” said Emily Wier, an SD350 member who was a key organizer of a rally at the EPA’s air quality hearing for the plant that drew over 60 people to San Ysidro in December, “the investor-owned utilities are feeling threatened by the growing rooftop solar revolution and are trying to lock us in to a dirty energy future we don’t want and we can’t afford.” (The group performed a skit at the EPA hearing featuring checks to “San Diego Greed & Electric” – see photo below.)
“As a mother of two young children, I have a message for the CPUC: We must do everything we can to keep the planet livable for my kids and all kids,” said SD350 member Dr. Jeanne Peterson, “That means saying no to this dirty fossil fuel power plant and other plants like it and supporting a shift to rooftop solar right now.”
“SDG&E is trying to scare San Diegans by saying if we don’t do this the lights are going to go out” said SD350 member Dr. Nicole Peill-Moelter, “but that’s simply not true. California Independent System Operator (CalISO – which monitors electricity demand and supply) clearly shows we’ve had more than enough energy to meet demand during the entire San Onofre shut-down, and with more solar production and at least 165 MW of storage coming online, there’s no reason – other than SDG&E profits – to even consider this costly fossil fuel relic.”
“It is simply unacceptable that we are even considering this fossil fuel power plant that will annually emit greenhouse gases and air pollutants equivalent to burning 70 million gallons of gasoline.” said SD350 member Masada Disenhouse, “we must begin the transition to clean energy now to meet California’s emissions reduction goals and avert the worst climate impacts, including wildfires, water shortages, coastal flooding, and heat-related diseases.”
2 Responses
We’re in California. We used to be the leader in all things “green” “clean” and “renewable”… I’m curious what happened to that. Now, Minnesota is the one making the decision to use solar energy as their primary source of energy. Why is California not doing this? California, the state where everything carcinogenic is labeled, except for your electricity bill.
Great posting Kimberly. CPUC and SDGE have a public relations nightmare on their hands with Pio Pico and we can only hope they are finally getting the message that the only way forward is through renewables.