FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Diegans applaud unanimous California
Public Utilities Commission vote rejecting proposed SDG&E Gas Pipeline
CPUC upheld proposed decision that said the pipeline is unnecessary and inconsistent with California’s clean energy and climate objectives
June 21, 2018, San Francisco - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) unanimously rejected SDG&E’s proposal to build the $639 Million Pipeline 3602 at its meeting this morning. The Commissioners upheld the proposed decision by CPUC Administrative Law Judge Colette Kersten on May 2.
That decision stated that SDG&E and SoCalGas “have not shown why it is necessary to build a very costly pipeline to substantially increase gas pipeline capacity in an era of declining demand and at a time when the state of California is moving away from fossil fuels.”
Stephanie Corkran, a volunteer campaigner with SanDiego350, who traveled to San Francisco to speak for San Diegans opposing the pipeline, said the vote was an important precedent. “We know that to achieve California’s climate goals we need to stop building new fossil fuel infrastructure and leave fossil fuels in the ground,” she said. “Today the CPUC made the same determination, marking this is an important milestone in California’s transition to clean, safe, sustainable energy.”
Corkran hand delivered over 1,200 postcards and online petition submissions of San Diego County residents who wanted their opposition to the project to be part of the official public record. These were in addition to hundreds of postcards previously sent by SanDiego350 to the CPUC by mail. She had also organized a rally opposing the pipeline that took place this past Saturday at Mission Trails Park.
“We hope this decision means that SDG&E’s scheme to have ratepayers bear the expense of unneeded infrastructure that would likely support export of natural gas via Baja California to pad shareholder profits has been permanently defeated,” she said.
Corkran said today’s vote went a long way to restore her faith in the system. “We knew that profit is SDG&E’s only motive - even, at the expense of the public and environment,” she said, “But we were hoping that the CPUC was motivated by the evidence and the threat this pipeline posed to our health, safety, environment, and continued ability to exist on this planet. This time our hopes came true.”
SanDiego350 is an inclusive volunteer organization building a movement to prevent the worst impacts of climate change and climate injustice. We strive to create a future that supports a livable planet and just society through education and outreach, public policy advocacy, and mobilizing people to take action. We are affiliated with 350.org, the international climate organization, whose work inspires us.
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