“This (Mission Trails) is a beautiful place. Why would you want to ruin it by putting up a power plant?” In a “David versus Goliath” moment, Barbara, a brave and poised ten-year-old, stands up before San Diego’s Planning Commissioners on June 28, 2012, to speak out against the Quail Brush Power Plant which is proposed to be constructed right alongside national bio-gem, Mission Trails Regional Park. Sempra Energy/ SDG&E has awarded a contract to Cogentrix out of North Carolina to build a power plant featuring 11 100-foot smokestacks that would forever mar the beauty of Mission Trails, which features habitats and animals that exist nowhere else on the planet. This meeting was held to approve or oppose rezoning Open Space land to “Heavy Industrial.” Opponents of the power plant packed the room. The vote was 3-2 against initiating the rezoning process. A majority vote of 4 was needed and therefore the session will be revisited on July 19, 2012. Ironically, a nay vote was made by a Commissioner whose last name is Smiley. Before voting, he commented that he saw nothing pristine or scenic about the proposed area. Those of us who frequent the park beg to differ and suggest that he actually visit Mission Trails before making another uninformed vote the next time.
Save Mission Trails 
Powerful odds but a good and necessary fight! Thanks for the article
Bravo Patty!!!! Great article.
Thanks so much, Lennea!
I do go hike Mission trails appx. 3 times a week ,to get out from civilization in to the wilderness and to see a POWER PLAN on my view instead then wildlife and non spoiled nature its a Crime,so please don,t ruin Mission trails put the power plan like inside camp Elliot ,there,s lots land available and the would not hurt anyone!
NO POWER PLANT IN MISSION TRAILS or SANTEE!
Some people care about money more than they care about beauty. And by the notes on the meeting, some people have different ideas about what is beautiful and what is not.