As expected, CoGentrix has appealed the Planning Commission’s Denial to Initiate an Amendment of the City’s General Plan and East Elliott Community Plan. The appeal was submitted to the San Diego City Council on August 2, 2012. Touting the power plant’s purported “energy, economic, and environmental benefits,” CoGentrix is asking S.D. City Council to approve initiation of the Plan Amendments to “allow for the development and operation of the proposed Project.”
We say, “Benefits for whom?” It’s CERTAINLY NOT beneficial to the local communities, Tierrasanta, Navajo, El Cajon, La Mesa, and especially Santee, who will suffer worse air quality and subsequent health issues, decreased property values and ensuing reduced tax income for local governments, noise pollution, visual blight, and diminished civic pride. It’s NOT beneficial to the citizens of San Diego who value the region’s gem, Mission Trails, and show off its impressive views and open spaces to our out-of-state friends. NOT to the park users out getting exercise and enjoying some respite from urbanity nor for the scouts on campouts, moms and dads walking with strollers, hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians. NOT beneficial to the area’s indigenous, and some endangered, plants and animals and the San Diego River watershed. And NOT for the SDG&E ratepayers who will pay the $600 million cost of the plant, per the California Energy Commission (CEC).
Energy benefits? We prefer conservation, energy efficiency, rooftop solar in our sun-drenched communities, grid-scale clean energy storage technology, and other forward-thinking solutions for reliable energy – which by the way, we already have and is NOT threatened, even with the possible permanent closure of San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant, per the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
We say don’t open the door for re-zoning this precious Open Space to Industrial, especially for a natural gas power plant in a high fire hazard area. Let’s all do what we can to protect this special area and keep our communities safe:
While San Diego City Council is at recess for the month of August, we are NOT!
- Keep up-to-date of public meetings and hearings. Attend as many as you can.
- Find out which candidates on November’s ballot oppose the power plant. Support their campaigns. Vote.
- Voice your specific objections and concerns about Quail Brush to the San Diego City Council members and to the California Energy Commission (CEC).
- Write letters to the editor of SD area media: paper and online. Read and post comments online, and comment on Save Mission Trails posts, too!
- Donate and/or volunteer to Save Mission Trails to help us continue the fight.
- Stay informed via CEC List Server Website (submit your email in their right-hand column).
- Tell your friends, families, and coworkers about this issue and ask for their support, starting with their signing the online petition and signing up as a follower (click tab on bottom right).
Thanks for everything you do!
Save Mission Trails 
Interestingly enough, Redondo Beach is going through the very same thing right now…. http://nopowerplant.com/npp/
$600 Million is only the beginning, the Santee Power Plant is the second shoe falling from the Sunrise PowerLInk, they are joined at the hip. More than $1Billion in rate increases to pay for the biggest lie and corrupt boondoggle in CA history the Sunrise PowerLInk, rates will be going through the roof to enrich the coffers of SEMPRA, SDGE, Goldman Sachs, Pattern Energy and taxes will increase to pay for the CEC jobs. When people are paying those rates and taxes, breathing the carcinogenic particulates, can’t sell and move, maybe then they will realize they should have fought the power plant a little more aggressively instead of depending on their local politician to do something. Expect a 15% to 20% loss in property value within the viewshed and noise pollution impact zone.
The $600 M QBGP tab is for all SDG&E ratepayers – the short term costs.
Long term: The toxic effects of air pollution just keeps on giving!
With increased health issues of Santee and other east county residents, all taxpayers and those with private health insurance will be stuck with higher Medical/welfare taxes and increased private health premiums.