REGION: Power line judged consistent with energy policy

By DAVE DOWNEY - Staff Writer | Friday, April 11, 2008 6:36 PM PDT ∞

Political leaders representing a majority of San Diego County cities determined Friday the proposed $1.5 billion Sunrise Powerlink transmission line is consistent with the region's long-term energy strategy.

The members of the San Diego Association of Governments board voted 17-3 to reach that conclusion. "No" votes were cast by Solana Beach and Del Mar, and one of two county supervisors on the board.

Adopted in 2003, the strategy advocated using more locally generated electricity and green energy, while increasing the ability to import power from outside the county over transmission lines.

San Diego Gas & Electric Co. proposes to string 500- and 230-kilovolt wires from metal towers as tall as 160 feet along a 150-mile route between El Centro and Carmel Valley. The line would run through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Santa Ysabel, Ramona and Rancho Penasquitos. For about 10 miles, wires would be buried.

Because the line could deliver 1,000 megawatts and plug into sun, wind and geothermal power in the Imperial Valley, the majority judged the project consistent with the green and import goals ---- and therefore consistent with the overall strategy.

The vote carries no weight because the California Public Utilities Commission, not the board, will decide the project's fate. The board weighed in because SDG&E sought its endorsement.

Some board members suggested the line's presence would compromise one goal in the strategy: that half the green power come from within the county.

It was San Marcos Mayor Jim Desmond who proposed adopting the position that the power line was consistent.

County Supervisor Dianne Jacob took the opposite position, saying: "There are cleaner and less destructive ways to keep this region's lights on."

The vote capped a four-hour meeting that saw dozens of opponents and supporters speak.

Just before the vote, San Diego Councilman Jim Madaffer turned to them and asked: "For those who are against this, are you willing to sign up to be the first to be turned off when we have the next power outage?"

"Oh absolutely," someone said.

The vote came on the last day local politicians and the public could send comments to the utilities commission. The state regulatory agency is expected to decide by August whether to approve the project. A rejection could be appealed to the federal government as early as October.

Contact staff writer Dave Downey at (760) 745-6611, Ext. 2623, or ddowney@nctimes.com.

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