Editor:
Hundreds of citizens traveled to Borrego Springs on May 12 to attend an extraordinary meeting of the state Public Utilities Commission to discuss San Diego Gas & Electric Co.’s proposed Sunrise Powerlink through the backcountry.
Opponents spoke from numerous points of view: high-voltage-transmission-line-sparked wildfires, public resources sacrificed for corporate profits and stewardship of our parks. What was striking about supporter statements was the monotonous recitation of the singing points provided by SDG & E.; “Renewable and reliable energy,” goes the first verse, quickly followed by the refrain, “We gotta keep the lights on.”
This should come as no surprise, considering it was simply execution of SDG & E;’s 2004 strategy to provide political cover for its ugly-from-the-start project.
That political cover was none other than a song called “Renewable and Reliable Energy From a Transmission Line.”
SDG & E; officials have been singing it ever since , apparently with some success , to a lot of business people.
In a herculean effort, the PUC has evaluated thousands of pages of documentation and 27 specific alternatives.
As detailed in its 7,500-page environmental impact report, the PUC has identified five alternatives that would provide San Diego with renewable and reliable energy without the proposed line, and therefore without sacrificing our deserts, mountains and magnificent parks.
There is a new song on the hit parade.
It’s called “Renewable and Reliable Energy Without Lining SDG & E;’s Pockets,” and it seems to be rapidly climbing the charts. Stay tuned.
J. David Garmon, M.D.
San Diego
