Our view: Sunrise Powerlink could bring big environmental, and some economic, benefits to North County

Objections to San Diego Gas & Electric's proposed Sunrise Powerlink focus on the negative impact on Anza-Borrego State Park. While those criticisms are not to be ignored, what hasn't been discussed are the potential environmental benefits that may result from the line, especially along our coast.

It is with those environmental benefits in mind, along with some economic ones, that we support the building of the Sunrise Powerlink.

In 2002, as California recovered from the worst energy crisis in its history, lawmakers in Sacramento hit upon the idea that 20 percent of the state's electricity be derived from renewable energy (biomass, wind, solar and geothermal) by 2017. In 2006, the mandate was made even more ambitious when the target date was reduced to 2010 .

It is against this regulatory backdrop that the $1.3 billion Sunrise Powerlink, which will connect the county to solar and geothermal energy in the desert, was publicly proposed in 2005 .

SDG&E is defending the Sunrise Powerlink based on a number of economic and regulatory assumptions. Although some are more valid than others, we do not necessarily share those assumptions.

To begin with, we doubt that state utilities will meet the 2010 deadline for renewable energy, especially because there are no real penalties for not doing so. Such a failure would have no immediate impact on SDG&E's ability to provide electricity.

We also don't believe SDG&E's assertions that substantial amounts of renewable energy cannot be produced closer to home. Its glossy brochures say that to produce the needed amount of renewable energy locally would require that solar panels be installed on 855,000 residential rooftops at a cost of $21 billion.

Those are big, scary numbers, but such naysaying is exactly what we'd expect to hear from a publicly traded electricity company that -- because of the way rates are structured -- sees more economic incentive in building transmission lines than photovoltaic panels.

And we don't buy SDG&E's argument that we'll need the line for future energy needs. Barring astronomic increases in energy demand or a catastrophic event that puts existing transmission lines out of commission for long stretches, we'll have plenty of energy, produced mostly in San Diego, for the foreseeable future.

So why are we in favor of the Sunrise Powerlink?

In addition to its new standard for renewable energy, the state has enacted another law designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. This is to be accomplished largely by targeting utilities and other major greenhouse gas producers.

To meet that goal, it's evident, although not explicitly so, that SDG&E is slowly weaning itself off uglier, older, dirtier, less efficient power plants such as Encina in Carlsbad. The energy deficit that is created by the shuttering of Encina will be filled by the renewable energy SDG&E plans to import. That's a big plus for North County.

Another power line into the county, such as Sunrise, will make it less likely that we'll be held hostage to price gougers during the next energy crisis. It may also open up the region to competition down the road by giving outside suppliers an additional route to get energy to customers.

And there are other pluses. Reliability will be improved, although SDG&E's argument that existing lines are insufficient is questionable . Capacity will also be boosted. Best of all, San Diego residents will pay only a small part of the cost because the financial burden for transmission lines is shared by ratepayers statewide.

Of course, there's one big negative: The line will run through the Anza-Borrego State Park.

But Californians long ago decided that we are willing to pay more for clean air and pretty views, especially along our coasts. For the $1.3 billion that the Sunrise Powerlink will cost, SDG&E will gain access to the renewable energy that will allow it to comply with state laws, reduce fossil fuel use and end its reliance on antiquated power plants on North County's coastline. In effect, we're trading the Sunrise Powerlink through our desert for clearer, more picturesque sunsets along our coast and cleaner air for everyone.

That sounds like a good deal to us.