August 25, 2007
SAN ONOFRE STATE PARK/TRESTLES vs. PROPOSED TOLL HIGHWAY SR241 (LCVSD supports the Park and opposes the proposed toll road) - The California Coastal Commission will be hearing the application for the proposed toll road in October at a hearing in San Pedro. At the same time, a major propaganda campaign has been started the Toll Road Authority and some city council members from Orange County. Also, more opposition is coming from the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians in order to protect an ancient village site, Panhe. The toll road would be built next to the Panhe village site.
SUNRISE POWERLINK (LCVSD opposes the proposed route) - The Federal Government may override any opposition to the Sunrise PowerLink from residents, local and state governments! In 2005, the U.S. Energy Policy Act gave Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to preempt local control. Now the U.S. Department of Energy has started to exert control by proposing to designate 11 counties in Southern California, southern Nevada and western Arizona as "National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors." Separate from this federal action, some of the opposition to the Sunrise PowerLink are proposing to change state law and require the SDG&E buy back excess electric power from solar roofs. By changing the law, homeowners would have incentives to produce extra solar-electricity that could be distributed by SDG&E. In addition, SDG&E has asked the PUC to delay decisions by only a month, instead of the 4 to 6 months.
MEGA-DEVELOPMENT IN SANTEE - Over 1,300 homes are proposed to be built on the old Fanita Ranch in Santee. An Environmental Impact Report is available for comments until October 5th. Fanita Ranch is in northwestern Santee, adjacent to the east end of Miramar Marine Corp Air Station.
EXPANDED FOSSIL FUEL ELECTRIC GENERATION PLANNED BY MCC ENERGY - Karl Miller, CEO OF MMC Energy, recently summarized his company's plans for it's two fossil-fueled power plants in San Diego County. In Chula Vista, MCC plans to expand the existing plant from about 44 megawatts to 100 megawatts. In Escondido, MCC Energy plans to expand their existing plant in Escondido to 45 megawatts. Since 45 megawatts is under the State's threshold for review, MCC Energy expects to only need a local permit from the City of Escondido; such as a simple conditional use permit like a local contractor's permit.
HIGHER COSTS TO DRIVE, PLUS HIGHER TRANSIT FEES - The U.S. Department of Transportation may provide a one-time grant to San Diego to implement "congestion charges" for highways, etc. The idea is to increase the costs to travel at peak times. The hope is that some people may shift their travel times to less congested periods. Even if that does not work, governments could collect millions of dollars in revenue. Separately, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Service raised bus fares, dropped transfers and even eliminated some routes. This situation seems like a government "Catch 22." Why would SANDAG want to raise the costs of driving, while transit becomes a less viable alternative?
GLOBAL WARMING-TRANSPORTATION PLANS OPPOSED BY SANDAG - State Senate Bill 375, if passed, asks SANDAG, and other regional transportation planning agencies, to fight global warming by including local strategies to locate housing near jobs, shopping and public transit to reduce driving of cars. The incentive is the millions of State transportation funds that are currently controlled by SANDAG. In July, the Board of SANDAG voted 11-4 to oppose this bill, on the grounds that it might limit their "local control." It seems ironical that SANDAG wants "local control" over State Funds and resists such State legislation. Previously, the California Attorney General sent letters to SANDAG and the City of San Diego requesting that they reduce traffic via their plans.
SOLAR HOT WATER HEATING - Assembly Member Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego), is co-author of The Solar Hot Water and Efficiency Act of 2007 (AB 1470). She said “These systems allow homes and businesses to slice their natural gas consumption by half. This helps consumers reduce their energy consumption, lower greenhouse emissions from traditional natural-gas water heating systems, and save on their energy bills.” In addition, San Diego's Center for Sustainable Energy is now accepting applications for subsidies to convert to solar water heaters.
POLLUTION FROM THE MISSION VALLEY PETROLEUM STORAGE FACILITY - In 1992, the owner of the petroleum storage tanks in Mission Valley, Kinder Morgan, was ordered to clean up the large, underground plume of pollution from the leaking facility. Now, City Attorney Michael Aguirre has filed suit to speed up the effort by Kinder Morgan. The new suit wants a total, faster cleanup, especially under the City's Qualcomm Stadium and in the tainted water supply in Mission Valley.
SDSU EXPANSION VS. NEIGHBORS - Like so many university campuses, San Diego State University plans for major expansion of its campus. That expansion would produce major impacts, including traffic. The trustees of California State University expect to vote on the plan on September 18th. Lawsuits opposing the proposal have been filed by Alvarado Hospital, the City of San Diego, and others.
REVIEWING THE FINES AGAINST ESCONDIDO FOR SEWAGE POLLUTION - Previously, the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) had charged the City of Escondido and it's treatment plant with over 90 violations of water quality through December 2005. This resulted in $1.8 million in fines for releases of waste water from the Hale Ave Treatment Plant, including dumping into Escondido Creek and San Elijo Lagoon. Then the Regional Water Quality Board reduced the fines, based on statements by the City of Escondido. Now, the Escondido Creek Conservancy and the San Diego Coastkeeper have convinced the State Water Resources Control Board to review that settlement, with its reduced fines. That review is scheduled for September 18th.
BARNETT RANCH OPEN SPACE - In Ramona, the 700 acre, Barnett Ranch Preserve is now open. The County bought the former ranch in 2002. Eventually, it may be connected with 4,000 acre Monte Vista Ranch property that was bought in 2005 by the Nature Conservancy. However, the property may be impacted by the proposed expansion of power line from the Sunrise Powerlink project.
DEVELOPMENT BY VIEJAS - The Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians is planning a massive expansion of its developments, including its casino. Since it currently taps the very limited ground water; it is purchasing more water from sources outside San Diego County.
ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS MAKES GREENER SURFBOARD BLANKS - The Homeblown manufacturing plant in San Diego is now producing foam blanks for surfboards made from soy polyol instead of petroleum polyol.
