Campaign Goals and Strategy

Our goals are to prevent construction of the Powerlink and at the same time help San Diego County achieve it’s long-term goal of local generation and distribution of renewable and clean energy. To accomplish these goals, we need your support to implement a multi-dimensional campaign to prevent or challenge CPUC approval of the Powerlink through legal advocacy, organizing, lobbying, research, education, and litigation. We also need your support to champion smarter energy solutions for the region in order to provide a credible alternative to the proposed Sunrise Powerlink project.

Together we have only one year – 2007 – to effectively engage in the state’s Powerlink permitting process, to argue for rejection of the project by the California Public Utilities Commission, and to organize grassroots opposition.

This is a complex undertaking that requires a disciplined and rigorously measurable campaign with several dimensions operating concurrently. To successfully effect this decision, groups supported by POC must participate in complicated and highly technical Utilities Commission legal proceedings, retain experts, mobilize significant public opposition, lobby decision makers, and file strategic litigation. We must also anticipate the likely need to mount a legal challenge in 2008 against a potential state approval of the Powerlink.

Campaign management and finances 
The POC is a dedicated fund that is administered by the San Diego Foundation.  It includes an advisory group with representatives from many organizations and community alliances involved in the Powerlink campaign. Your contribution will help the POC to support and advise the individual partner organizations and community alliances.

Key contacts:
Dennis Trafecante-760-703-1149
Michael Pinto-760-782-3717

Send donations to the Protect Our Communities Fund:
The San Diego Foundation, c/o Emily Young
2508 Historic Decatur Rd., Suite 200, San Diego CA 92106

619-235-2300;  eyoung@sdfoundation.org

Upcoming Events:

Publication of Draft EIR/EIS
January, 2008

Draft EIR/EIS Workshops Conducted by Environmental Review Team
January, 2008

Telephonic Discovery Conferences Begin Again,
to Continue Weekly as Needed
February 5, 2008, 2:00 p.m.
877-347-9604, Code – 771069

Public Participation Hearing - Pine Valley
February 25, 2008, 6:30 p.m.

Public Participation Hearing - Borrego Springs
February 26, 2008, 1:00 p.m.

Public Participation Hearing - Ramona
February 26, 2008, 7:00 p.m.

Details for the Public Participation Hearings are as follows:

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2008 , 6:30 p.m.
Mountain Empire High School
3305 Buckman Springs Rd.
Pine Valley, CA 91962

TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 26, 2008, 1:00 p.m.
Borrego Springs
Borrego Springs Resort
1112 Tilting T Drive
Borrego Springs, CA 92004

TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 26, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
Ramona
Charles Nunn Performing Arts Center
1521 Hanson Lane
Ramona, CA 92065