DesertBlog

SDG&E Unveils Sunrise Powerlink Disinformation Campaign

SDG&E unveiled its “false choice” advertising campaign yesterday, including this billboard in Kearny Mesa. The company and its “brownroots” support group want to “educate” the public about the Sunrise Powerlink. To do so, they’re presenting us with a false choice between ugly, polluting power plants on the one hand and the Sunrise Powerlink on the other. (Notice that the billboard leaves out any picture of the Sunrise Powerlink itself, though there is a large transmission tower immediately to the right and behind the Kearny Mesa sign, a handy reminder of what this project is all about.)

Fortunately, many San Diegans have caught on to the truth about the Powerlink: it will bring ugly, polluting powerplants to border towns like Mexicali and Calexico and run a massive, destructive 150-mile transmission line through the heart of Anza-Borrego (the crown-jewel of our State Parks system) and into communities such as Santa Ysabel, Ramona and Rancho Penasquitos. Meanwhile, at a lifetime cost of $7 billion, it will rob our region of the resources needed to move toward true clean, reliable, secure energy.

How about making a better, smarter choice, instead of these dumb and dumber ones? How about putting just half of that money into rooftop solar panels? SDG&E has pooh-poohed this option for years, but Southern California Edison is moving forward with such a plan right now (more on that tomorrow). Or, how about San Diego Smart Energy 2020? The plan is making its way through the regulatory process, and received a very nice reception at the San Diego Renewable Energy Society.