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Continued...
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT:
The Facts about the Proposed Sunrise Powerlink
Fiction: The proposed Sunrise Powerlink will transport renewable energy, enabling SDG&E to meet the goal of delivering 20% of its energy from renewable resources by 2010.
FACT: According to Jim Avery, Senior Vice President of SDG&E, there is no guarantee that all electricity carried by Sunrise would be from renewable sources.(10) In fact, he has stated there may be times when the line would be used to transport electricity generated from fossil fuels.(11)
Additionally, SDG&E is gambling with experimental technology instead of proven renewable energy sources. SDG&E points to their contract with Stirling Energy Systems to build up to 36,000 dish/Stirling solar units in the desert as the basis for their claim that the Sunrise Powerlink will carry renewables. As noted by Dr. Barry Butler, the former vice president and manager of SAIC's Solar Energy Products Division and an expert on dish/Stirling technology, these units suffer from "major reliability problems" including hydrogen and internal engine seal leakage.(12) Dr. Butler also noted the need for "nearly continuous maintenance" to keep the system able to generate electricity.(13) In Dr. Butler's experience with dish/Stirling technology, every 40 hours, a problem arose which required shut down and maintenance.(14) He commented,
This means a great deal of time, effort and money must be spent on maintenance. This drives up the cost of operating a dish/Stirling unit. The commercial viability of the Stirling system is unproven at this time.
Finally, Dr. Butler states, "SDG&E has no experience with the operation of dish/Stirling technology, and is proposing to go straight from the prototype to a utility-scale installation."(15) He concludes "there is no possible way" that dish/Stirling solar can move from its current prototype stage to cost-effective commercial application by the end of 2010(16). Despite this fact, Jim Avery, a Senior Vice President at SDG&E, has stated the dish/Stirling solar technology will not be run through a pilot project prior to SDG&E's attempt to use it commercially.(17)
In fact, rather than transporting renewables to San Diego, the proposed project actually enables SDG&E to import polluting power from Sempra's existing Liquid Natural Gas plants in Mexico and transmit it, ultimately, to Los Angeles. These plants do not meet American environmental or labor standards, and ultimately contribute to a rise in Green House Gases rather than a reduction.10 Craig D. Rose, San Diego Union-Tribune, "SDG&E official faces foes of Sunrise Powerlink," July 10, 2007.
11 Craig D. Rose, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Powerlink's supply called into question," July 11, 2007.
12 Dr. Barry Butler, "Phase I Direct Testimony of Dr. Barry Butler on Behalf of Conservation Groups," June 1, 2007.
17 Craig D. Rose, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Powerlink's supply called into question," July 11, 2007.
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
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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
