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Report: Alternatives would harm environment less than power line
By: DAVE DOWNEY - Staff Writer
But SDG&E says only its Sunrise Powerlink would meet all of region's electricity needs | ∞
New power plants in metro San Diego or a new power line in western Riverside County could meet San Diego County's growing demand for electricity with far less damage to the environment than the Sunrise Powerlink transmission line, according to a report released Thursday.
More than 7,000 pages long, the long-awaited environmental impact report for San Diego Gas & Electric Co.'s proposed $1.3 billion power line said that it would also be better for the environment if an alternative route was selected to the south along Interstate 8. That, the report said, is because such a route would avoid the relatively pristine Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Opponents seized on the conclusions in the report prepared by the California Public Utilities Commission and the federal Bureau of Land Management. They suggested the report's findings were particularly damaging for the project and ultimately could lead to its rejection by the commission, a state regulatory agency, later this year.
"The report really is a stunning blow against the project and takes all the wind out of SDG&E's sails," said David Hogan, San Diego County conservation manager for the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group.
San Diego Gas & Electric officials offered an entirely different interpretation.
"As we see it, we're now one step closer to a more reliable, greener energy future for San Diego," said Mike Niggli, chief operating officer for the utility. "We're now within seven to eight months of getting a decision. ... We finally got to this point."
Steve Hoffman, president of Western Region office of NRG Energy Inc., which is proposing to replace its aging Encina plant in Carlsbad with a 540-megawatt natural-gas-fired plant, said he was pleased that the report shines the spotlight on local power plants.
But, Hoffman said, "This isn't a report that says, 'Don't build a transmission line.' It may be a report that says, 'Do the other things first.' "
The report was compiled by the public utilities agency and the federal Bureau of Land Management. The public has three months to review the report and until April 11 to file comments.
The report may be viewed at www.cpuc.ca.gov/Environment/info/aspen/sunrise/sunrise.htm.
San Diego Gas & Electric Co., which provides electricity to all of San Diego County and the southern one-third of Orange County, essentially wants to build a 150-mile superhighway of electricity between El Centro and Carmel Valley.
The project's 500-kilovolt wires would be strung from metal towers as tall as 160 feet. The utility's preferred route would wind through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Ranchita, Santa Ysabel, Ramona and Rancho Penasquitos. The lines would deliver 1,000 megawatts, boosting the region's electricity supply by about 20 percent.
San Diego Gas & Electric has proposed to put about 10 miles of the line in Ramona and Rancho Penasquitos underground.
Many San Diego County elected officials and business leaders have come out in favor of the line. But the $1.3 billion project is strongly opposed by environmentalists, a San Diego consumer advocacy group and hundreds of residents in communities that the wires would cross.
The California Public Utilities Commission, a regulatory body, has the job of sorting out the arguments and is expected to decide by late summer whether to issue a license to build the line. Its decision is expected to be based on the volumes of information now available exploring whether the power line is necessary, how much it could cost and its environmental impact, which was detailed in the report released Thursday.
The commission may or may not have the final say, however.
In October, the U.S. Energy Department designated much of Southern California, including San Diego County, a national electric transmission corridor. That move opened a way for the utility, should it be denied by California's regulators, to ask the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission late this year to approve the project. Under a controversial provision in 2005 energy legislation, the federal government can overturn state denials of new power lines if they are in a national corridor.
The report concluded that several alternatives would exact a lighter toll on the environment than the Sunrise Powerlink; they are listed in order from least to most destructive:
- 1. A major natural gas-fired power plant and several smaller ones in San Diego County to provide 700 megawatts, coupled with local solar panels and wind turbines to generate 300 megawatts.
- 2. An assortment of sun, wind and biomass-powered generation plants in San Diego County capable of producing 1,000 megawatts.
- 3. The Nevada Hydro Co.'s proposal for a new 32-mile 500-kilovolt transmission line through the Cleveland National Forest of western Riverside County, between Lake Elsinore and Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base.
- 4. A southern route that would run along the Interstate 8 corridor from El Centro to San Diego. Its advantage is that it would avoid Anza-Borrego entirely. Nearly 25 miles of SDG&E's preferred route would cross the nation's largest state park.
- 5. A variation of the preferred route through the North County backcountry, with 54 miles of wires built underground ---- including the section through Anza-Borrego.
The problem with those options, said Niggli of San Diego Gas & Electric, is that they don't meet all of the project's objectives. Those are to provide a reliable electricity supply for the future, meet a state mandate to secure 20 percent of the regional supply from clean sources such as the sun and wind by 2010, and to slash greenhouse gases. The utility says the line would tap clean sources to be developed in the desert.
Commission spokeswoman Susan Carothers said it is not uncommon for reports to show alternatives environmentally superior to proposed energy projects.
The report found that the preferred route would wipe out 500 acres of wildlife habitat, disturbing the endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep, Quino checkerspot butterfly and golden eagle, and lend an "industrial character" to once-pristine views in the state park. The mere presence of the towers could force closure of the Tamarisk Grove Campground and reduce overall park visits, harming nearby tourist-based economies.
As well, the line would encroach on 50 acres of wilderness in the park, the report states.
Besides the park, the high-wire act would diminish the value of recreation at several county open-space reserves in the Ramona area, the San Dieguito River Park and the Pacific Crest Trail that runs between Mexico and Canada.
The report also concludes that the towers' presence would make it harder for firefighters to battle blazes, by restricting aerial attacks, and would increase the likelihood that wildfires would break out.
"The federal and state agencies have said that locally generated power is better for San Diego County," said Ramona activist Diane Conklin, who opposes the project. "That's what we think, too."
Contact staff writer Dave Downey at (760) 745-6611, Ext. 2623, or ddowney@nctimes.com.
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ratepayer wrote on Jan 4, 2008 6:18 AM:Ratepayers will pay for the sunrise scam. The Utility Consumers Action Network has run the numbers. This is profit driven move by a utility monopoly.
Watch out for SEMPRA's power wrote on Jan 4, 2008 6:54 AM:We had better be on the alert to SEMPRA's power and ALL reply to the EIR pointing to deficiencies and failures to consider better alternatives. This was just their first round and we have to guess that they have a very powerful lobby presence in Sacramento and Washington. Respond, respond, respond. Write your congress, speak out. Let your voice be heard. We are fortunate so far, but they have the money to make it happen.
Socal expatriate wrote on Jan 4, 2008 7:17 AM:Wohoo! Thank you Aspen! I don't know if this drives a stake through the Sunrise Powerlink, since SDGE has other arguments to draw upon besides environmental impact. But still, it's good to see.
Not done yet wrote on Jan 4, 2008 7:19 AM:Comment on the EIR. We cannot sit idle. SEMPRA will not be idle. This is a big one for them. We are on our way to stopping the Sunrise Powerlink, but our work is not done yet.
Truth is Revealed wrote on Jan 4, 2008 8:23 AM:Why did Sempra push Sunrise so hard? It is simple, it would have resulted in maximum profit for shareholders, the public be damned. That is fair enough, but before a corporation rapes the largest state park in hte lower 48 the public should be able to weigh in and be taken into consideration. As usualy there will be screams of desperation, "not enough power, blackouts ahead" blah blah blah. Just like the airport issue, the truth will be revealed, things ain't as bad as the empire builders claim they are.
Gone With the Wind wrote on Jan 4, 2008 9:27 AM:It's so easy for Sempra/SDG&E to spin this report, and that's just what they're doing. Will politics have the final say, and the feds veto the EIR in the name of national energy independence -- just like a presidental pardon before Bush leaves office? Stay tuned.
Hollywood writers are on strike, but this EIR is 7000 pages. My oh my. Stay tuned.
For once wrote on Jan 4, 2008 9:34 AM:I would like to see a company say the heck with doing business in California and pull the plug. Power companies, water companies, Car manufacturers all have problems. It would be great if SDG&E closed up plants and all. Water companies move out and Auto manufacturers stop building and selling in CA. Maybe then we could get elected officials that would serve the people and not the big dollar contributers like Sierra Club and all the other environuts.
wait wrote on Jan 4, 2008 11:18 AM:Mr. For Once,
Your elected officials work for Sempra's interest not yours. Forget the enviro issues, it is a scam to milk the ratepayers. Not like they never ripped us off before.
If it was good enough wrote on Jan 4, 2008 12:38 PM:for Russia, it is good enogh for me! CHERNOBOLY!!!!
To Wait wrote on Jan 4, 2008 12:39 PM:Yeah and like the Environmentalists are our friends. Block water, limit power, fight clearing forests and brush land etc. Like unions they have outlived their usefulness. I will stay with progress and the companies who make my life enjoyable thank you.
Sierra Club the big spender??? hahah wrote on Jan 4, 2008 12:43 PM:you gotta be kidding me dude? if you beleive that your seriously deluded. As for companies leaving, we could be so lucky. Not going to happen, if California was a country it would be the sixth largest enconomy in the world. Face it, California is on the leading edge of innovation and enviromental cleanup. Clean air standards, clean water standards, you name it. If you don't like things here your more than welcome to leave. I have my rooftopo solar, got yours?
Ray wrote on Jan 4, 2008 1:15 PM:Sempra is in a desperate race against time. The new manufacturing technique from Nanosolar has resulted in printed solar cells with no load-bearing requirements and a reduction in the cost of rooftop solar by two-thirds.
Sempras energy and transmission monopoly is rapidly coming to an end even as they try to shove more nineteenth century technology down our throats.
Mazz wrote on Jan 4, 2008 2:13 PM:Chernobyl... so you had to go back 22 years to find something against nuke power? Any new plants will have far more modern tech, and be tempered by the environMENTALists.
Roof top solar? Franky, I know of No One that is actually against any alternative energy sources. But if you force it down our throats, it will be rejected FAST. Make it viable. Make it CHEAP. A solar package I researched cost about $25K. I pay ~$50/mo to SDG&E. So, it will take 40 years before I see a return on my money. Get that cost down.
Ray, they better advertise that solar alternative. This is the first I've heard of it. I'm for innovation, get it so that the market will drive it.
To big spender wrote on Jan 4, 2008 3:31 PM:Been here all my life. Yep since the Dems and Environuts have run things we have gone from #1 in Education to #48th. 45th in welfare to 2nd. Also $14 Billion in debt. We are very innovative and should be proud to pass this on to our kids. But sounds like you are in your little world so debt doesn't mean anything to you like the rest of the Dems. Just tax more. BTW when Solar becomes as efficient and cheap as real power maybe people will move to it. We need more solar panels and those great looking wind generators all over our hills and valleys. Think the environuts would let you do that. Don't think so.
Shananagans wrote on Jan 4, 2008 3:37 PM:Seriosusly guys, if you are so concerned about San Diego wildlife, why do you think putting 8 power plants in San Diego is a better alternative to putting up power lines. Are you aware of the emissions caused by those?
Also, consider the power outages caused by the wild fires. It is better to have access to outside power sources so when the local ones can't run, everyone else still has power.
In addition, my vote to San Diego county would be to try to come up with some money to pay to put the transmission lines underground. We all chose to live here and have to deal with the natural occurrences like fires and wind. Underground wires would be the most ideal investment.
Better than each individual paying $25K to have solar pannels installed that only work intermitently.
KB Off The Grid wrote on Jan 4, 2008 5:02 PM:Do more homework. Getting off the grid needn't cost $25K. It can be done for a fraction of that. Conservation is key. Wireless electricity transmission is already happening. Powerlines are an unneccesary fire hazzard.
From an Electrical Engineer to KB wrote on Jan 4, 2008 6:17 PM:You clearly either eat nothing but raw food, live in a one bedroom, and wash intermittently, or you have no idea what you are talking about. Unless you think having propane delivered or using a generator constitutes "off the grid".
Your computer consumes at least 150W, as do most rooms you light. Even a 2KW solar/wind setup costs more than $25K, and that wouldn't power one person's usage in most homes. The batteries alone, to provide reliable power, will cost you that much. Heck, the planning and engineering fees to get the PERMITS for a true off the grid system are more than $25K!
Bias in the mods wrote on Jan 4, 2008 6:20 PM:What happened to the tongue in cheek posts from Osama and Al? You guys got no sense of humor, or just want to bias the whole discussion towards your Nimbyism?
Nuclear wrote on Jan 4, 2008 6:53 PM:Oceanside's council voted recently in support of the powerlink. Yet they have no impact on them from it...
How about something better? Have SDG&E Build a few large Nuclear Reactors right in Oceanside!! They would power all of San Diego's needs for the next 20 years easily.
amazing.... wrote on Jan 4, 2008 10:08 PM:...amazing how often people talk about what they do not know...I have been researching this issue for 2 years quite intently, and there is much to know. Anyone interested might realise that this choice will stay with us for many years to come. We need to get it right. Think of what people will have wanted for us- when they look back 100 years from now.
Don wrote on Jan 5, 2008 12:55 AM:California would no longer be the sixth largest economy if it were separated from the USA and if ther present power of the environmental lobby were continued. It's ecomomy would quickly degrade to that of a third world country.
Senior wrote on Jan 5, 2008 1:00 AM:Reading the other comments it appears many persons do not get it. We have enjoyed the standard of living provided by having plenty of electrical power available fro decades. If the past generations had not built many power plants and many power lines, and some large dams for power generation, water supplies, and agriculture we would not had a succesful economy. We would not have become a prosperous state.
Don wrote on Jan 5, 2008 1:10 AM:It is dumb to have only one east-west link running along highway 10. Because natural disasters occur, and high voltage lines near highways are readily subject to attack or sabotage. ...
Bill wrote on Jan 5, 2008 3:54 AM:This is a game for keeps with the tree huggers. When a power line is proposed they fight it like the plaque and say locally generated power is wiser and better. Then when a local power plant is proposed they or their fellow tree hjugger buddies fight the local power plant, and noisy and will make more traffic, andwill make fumes. Wake up people before it is too late. Build both local power plants, and major power lines to remote power plants.
Don wrote on Jan 5, 2008 4:09 AM:Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I think a nice country scene is nice, and even nicer with a nice large power line through it. This represents th eprogress man has made from hunter-gatherer to civilized with electical lighting,refrigerators, freezers, vacumn cleaners, stereos, home computers, and someday electric cars.
And food markets with refrigerated displays of cooled and frozzen food and ice cream. Traffic signals that turn red and green, street lights, and electricity to run the motors in what manufacturing is still located here. Think about these things and build the power links ASAP. Really the animals and insects do not mind the power lines. And if this park is so very large there will still be room for those who do not like power lines to see unobstructed views.
Backcountry wrote on Jan 5, 2008 7:17 PM:Mr. Niggili must not have had time to read the 7,000 pages of the EIR if he thinks it puts him a step closer. Typical SDG&E lying their way through the process.
The real question would be if the Green Path is going through regardless of the outcome of Sunrise, then Sunrise is not needed. However, SDG&E is determined to go through with this anyway. Why is SDG&E so determined to put this route through the back country and Anza Borrego when it has clearly been shown there are better routes?
The agriculture land that this line is going to destroy is significant. We in this country take the abundance of food for granted, if these lands continue to be destroyed, we will eventually become a very hungary country.
Anyone who thinkes these lines are nice to look at, perhaps a trip to your local library to read the 7,000 pages of the EIR as I have will change your mind.
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