Roberto1 wrote on Jan 12, 2008 9:23 PM:talk about scapegoats...we don't need no stinking powerlines...How building powerplants in California...we need higher paying jobs .

Senior wrote on Jan 12, 2008 10:05 PM:This is a sad time in our country. Objection is made to building a needed power line that can light up 750,000 homes because 40 or 50 bighorn sheep live on 88 acres where the line would come through in the 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego State Park. But wait, there is more in the article. These sheep live in the mountain range that extends from Palm Springs to the Mexican Border. The article says there are 450 of them in the park, and 300 more nearby outside the park. Nobody knows whether the sheep will care if the power line is built there. Maybe they will want to move on. If those 88 acres is so special to them, maybe the power line could be routed around it. The article says maybe they won’t want to move under the power line to go breed with the northern or the southern herds like they do now. Fat chance of that! I have seen when cows on farms want to breed the bulls will crash through farm fences to get to them. It’s unlikely the sheep would stop for wires 150 feet above them when it is time to breed.

YOU wrote on Jan 12, 2008 10:07 PM:want electrical power to power your computer, you gotta pay the piper.

Senior to Roberto1 wrote on Jan 12, 2008 10:09 PM:Who is going to put out $700 million to $1,000 million to build each new power plant with no powerlines? No! Both are needed.

Karen wrote on Jan 12, 2008 10:18 PM:We should all be using more solar panels with all the sunshine we get here.

The Ratepayers and residents/property owners will pay for this project. wrote on Jan 12, 2008 10:29 PM:SDG & E actually will be given millions to make the new line(s). They don't even install it; they hire a company.

Macs wrote wrote on Jan 12, 2008 10:30 PM:These lines cause wild life, live stock and humans to abort their young, and also cause birth defeats.

BOB wrote on Jan 13, 2008 6:06 AM:Humans are not the only species on the planet. We just act like we are.

LKF wrote on Jan 13, 2008 7:06 AM:Such poppycock. The critters will be scared away. Who is the dumbest? Those who write these claims, or those who believe it? This is just another typical liberal enviro-pagan attempt to distort facts and nature. The Animals don't care. The end result, as usual, is higher costs for humans.

This is all nonsense wrote on Jan 13, 2008 7:12 AM:In all my trips to Borrego I have seen the sheep twice. It is rare to see them as they hide in the hills. These sheep are tough, a lot tougher than the weak human Chicken Little types that want to impede progress.

Don't harm the Bighorn wrote on Jan 13, 2008 7:43 AM:The sheep are not that elusive. I was camping in the main campground a few years back and when I awoke in the morning there were several bighorns near the base of the hill in back of me. It was really cool. We should protect these incredible animals.

Jacque wrote on Jan 13, 2008 7:56 AM: If you ask me, it is worth the risk. We don't live in a perfect world, we just need to weigh the pros and cons. In this case, we are taking about a transmisson line that would boost our regions electricity supply by 20%. This comes at a time when our state government was recently contemplating requiring a receiver in all new homes that wold allow the state to regulate the temperature setting and the electricity usage in our homes! Come on people, lets look at the big picture here! We need this transmission line!!

can't wait for this summer wrote on Jan 13, 2008 8:17 AM:I want to see what BLM decides. If they allow this to happen then they will have to also open up all the closed areas in Glamis. At least we have actual reports showing we are not hurting the anything. There has been proven facts that power lines do indeed hurt humans and cause birth defects and cause a type of cancer (I don't remember what type though). I know when I am 4 x 4ing out in burrego I don't want to hear the buzzing of high power lines! Too bad things are coming down to this. and too bad that california has such strict construction laws that it is almost impossible to build any power plants here! God help us all.

Debrah wrote on Jan 13, 2008 8:29 AM:Right on !, BOB
We need to stop this mindset that we are entitled to every square inch of land, just to fulfill our human "needs". There has to be genuine attempts by these utility companies to utilize our renewable natural resources,ie. wind, solar, hydro. I want to find out more on how we can lobby our politicians (State, Local) to step up and start demanding and not caving into these bloated utilities.
As far as I recall the Pennisular Bighorn are an extremely endangered species. We all need to become stewards of our planet Earth. I so much want to see one of these beautiful creatures in its own element and hope I can one day and hope they are there for my young daughter to see when she becomes able to enjoy the beauty of our Earth.

Unbelievable wrote on Jan 13, 2008 8:41 AM:It's sad how much ignorance there is out there. People making comparisons between cows and Bighorn Sheep to justify this idiotic plan to provide power to an overpopulated SD County. I am no tree hugger but how about some common sense people. Would you also string power lines through Yosemite Valley or over the Grand Canyon in the name of progress? How about we build a power plant or two locally and not be at the mercy of energy brokers as we were a few years ago (REMEMBER ENRON?) The money that was stolen from the coffers of this state could have built a number of locally controlled power plants. But that is all history with obviously no lessons learned. Hey, how about this idea, why don't they string the power lines along Interstate 8 into SD? I'm sure the presence of power lines won't keep gamblers away from East County casinos! Let's see if NCT posts this one, they didn't last time....out

Shareholders Threaten Big Horn Sheep wrote on Jan 13, 2008 8:42 AM:It is all about money. You "sheep" who buy the corporate line about the dire need of this power line are just big suckers. Same as the people who bought into the airport emergency. It is all about empire building. The powers that be would make millions off a multi billion dollar new airport. THe public be damned. Put a stop to these grandiose projects now.

Give me a break wrote on Jan 13, 2008 8:43 AM:What a bunch of BS! I suppose the campers, bikers and shooters help the species. If you want to keep buying middle east oil oppose this your helping them fund your end. There will be more room for sheep if a good Nuke goes off. This is where we will get new solar power from. Get a clue!!!! The sheep don't care!

Warner: wrote on Jan 13, 2008 10:18 AM: I read a lot of maybes in the above article. who is trying to stir something up? Are the goats an endangered species? Perhaps the crackling and buzzing would make them want to breed? I do know that goats are very adaptive; i.e., they can adapt to just about any change in environment. The goats of San Clemente island even adapt to living in a USN bombing zone. Are the goats indigenous to the area? Are there other endangered species in the park that the goats are harming; or is it that they just look good there? I suggest you get all your for certain data together and come back with a report. Meanwhile continue with building the power line. Your current data is about as good as a hill of beans.

Bo wrote on Jan 13, 2008 11:23 AM:Why can't they follow exisisting roadways for the power line? That certaintly makes more sense than ruining the beauty of Anza Borrego State Park!

Hates SDG&E wrote on Jan 13, 2008 3:55 PM:Bo

The answer to your question is because SDG&E and SEMPRA energy have other motives than just putting in a line. Like PROFITS, oh and yes they have NO common sense !!

JSten wrote on Jan 13, 2008 4:09 PM:AWWWWW! Dont kid a kidder! People have been buzzing the sheep for years whether in planes, choppers, or on bikes. The sheep will do what they do, move and stop and look, move and stop and look. Once they realize that the noise isn't about them they will tune it out.

... You would think that our sheep and goats are somewhat more fragile than their cousins all over the west.Do the[y] actually think that the sheep are that fragile?

3rd Generation San Diegan wrote on Jan 13, 2008 4:13 PM:I've lived in this area more than 50 years. So much open space has been paved over, electrified or occupied by suburbia during that time. My brothers and I used to be able to ride our bikes to streams (to collect frogs and crayfish) and open fields. It's all gone, covered by homes or in a drainage pipe.

I don't argue the need for more power here in San Diego. Even if the population were kept static, we'd need more power because of our increased dependence on electronic entertainment and computerization. Build a linkage between San Diego and the suppliers to the East, but don't do it at the expense of one of the few last open spaces in San Diego County. I've had colleagues come from Sweden, the UK and China for technical meetings who've asked me to take them out to Borrego. Our desert is known around the world, yet we (and SDGE) don't seem to appreciate it here. Underground the wires, build the power lines along existing roads or use existing pathways for electrical power. Who knows about the sheep (I've only been lucky enough to see them twice); what about our own kids?

Citizen wrote on Jan 13, 2008 4:24 PM:The Borrego Goats are fairly hardy. I once saw one fall off the side of a cliff and onto the road in front of me. It was a little stunned, like it was thinking - "How could I be so stupid?" But got up and climbed back up the cliff.

SDG&E should help folks in the sunniest areas of the county install solar panels and pay homeowners for the electric they produce instead of paying for the electric from their dirty, polluting plant in Mexico. (all that pollution just blows back across the border into the US.)

If they need more power than solar on American rooftops can provide, build or vastly expand nuclear plants in and around San Diego.

For alarmist, More people die from the pollution of coal and gas power plants Every year, than all 60 years of nuclear power plants.

Michael wrote on Jan 13, 2008 5:48 PM:Does anyone know when Old Grove Road in Oceanside is going to open? It's been complete for quite some time yet it has not been open for some reason. This is a waste of taxpayer money.

Jason L wrote on Jan 13, 2008 5:50 PM:Simple fix: Power lines should parallel the roads.

Let's confine our avenues of ugliness, excess, and waste to these existing corridors.

Daren wrote on Jan 13, 2008 8:34 PM:The extra power is necessary. There's no getting around that concept. However, is there a reason why the power lines could not be built underground. That would preserve the aesthetic value of the region, eliminate the fire risk and provide the power we need. I have not read the EIR or SDG&E's proposed plan, since I live so far from the affected area.

Roberto1 wrote on Jan 13, 2008 9:09 PM:Theses right-of-ways are worth millions...What is amazining to is this belief that we must allow this desicration and blight of our national forest. Build a power plant in San Diego...it only makes sense to stop importing power from Mexico, Canada, Texas when we can do it ourselves..the redundant infrastructure of back is already in place and only need to be enhanced through existing corridors.

Give me a break wrote on Jan 13, 2008 9:36 PM:I'm for prtectig the environment, but these environmentalist are really using these sheep as a lame excuse much like those who opposedthe Alaskan pipeline and the caribou. All conjecture and speculation. Unless these scientist/environmentalist have emperical evidence, they need to say so.

Citizen wrote on Jan 14, 2008 12:37 AM:Parks are not places for eyesore power lines. If the route is so important, then pay the billions to underground them, several hundred feet below ground.
...

Senior wrote on Jan 14, 2008 4:04 PM:To avbove writers complining about the view. 600,000 acres left without a powerline. Give me a break! Anyway beauty is in the eye of the beholder. All you have to do is see the towers as wonderful, bringing the wonders of modern heat, light, air conditioning, and employment opportunities for hundreds of thousands of persons in industry, warehousing, retail and other business.

Senior wrote on Jan 14, 2008 4:10 PM:TOall posters above who suggested along highway 8, consider this.
At some furture time there will likely be earthquakes, terrorist attacks on power lines, plane crashes, etc. You should not carry all your eggs in one basket, nor put all your powerlines in one corridor. It is simply not wise.

Citizen wrote on Jan 15, 2008 9:04 AM:I noticed half my comments got edited out by the NCTimes Censorship Czar.
None of which were obscene of used foul language.
So much for the 1st amendment.. Someday they will be crying how their rights are being suppressed and it will fall on the deaf ears of all those, they suppressed

Austin wrote on Jan 17, 2008 9:47 AM:We have no proof the sheep will avoid going under power lines; also no proof that they will. It is folly to put a herd at risk "because they can just go elsewhere" -- A few more projects like this and there will be no more "elsewheres" The sister project-- "Green Path North" carves a line right through the habitat of 1/3 of Joshua Tree National Park's herds and cuts them off fromthe only guaranteed water. We need the power? Generate it locally. Less destrruction, LESS vulnerable to attack, easier to access if downed (= less big fires)...

jeej wrote on Feb 25, 2008 3:53 PM: Mr. Jorgensen has a history of wanting to protect his own private sandbox. No matter if ASDSP is a public park or not, he and people like him in the System of the area, feel as if they have a right to experience the park to it's full, but "outsiders" (ie the public) have no right to the information they have. He, and people like him... need to lighten up. Oh by the way, the only way the public can get into their clique, is to either volunteer into their indoctrination, or buy a book.