DesertBlog

Sunrise Powerlink CageMatch!

Opponents face off next week in meetings that will help decide the fate of the Sunrise Powerlink, SDG&E’s unnecessary and destructive $7 billion boondoggle (that’s the lifetime cost, folks, not just the construction cost).

Diane Conklin of the Mussey Grade Road Alliance sent this alert:

“If you can only make one meeting next week, please go to the SANDAG [that's San Diego Association of Governments] meeting on Friday, April 11th, when the SANDAG Board of Directors is scheduled to vote on SDG&E’s power line project — and speak! We cannot let SANDAG vote for “transmission only” without a fight. Let your voices be heard!”

• When: April 11th, 10 a.m. – noon
• Where: SANDAG Board Room, Wells Fargo Building
• Address: 401 B Street, Suite 800, downtown S.D.
• Validated Parking: in the Wells Fargo Building’s underground lot (off 4th Ave. south of B)
• Map

For more verbal combat, the CPUC’s “Phase II Evidentiary Hearings” on the Sunrise Powerlink begin on Monday, April 7. This is where proponents and opponents of the project get to cross-examine each other. Think of it as a “Sunrise Powerlink CageMatch.” If this round is anything like Phase I, there are sure to be fireworks. Last time around, evidence revealed in the hearings nearly brought the process to a halt, and forced SDG&E to admit that the Sunrise Powerlink really is just one link in a transmission path to Los Angeles. See the action live, or maybe we’ll get video like this one from Utility Consumers Action Network.

• When: April 7 – 9; Monday’s hearing starts at 10:00, next days TBA (but probably at 9:00)
• Place: California Center for Sustainable Energy, 8690 Balboa Ave., Suite 100, San Diego
• Map

Partial Schedule:

• Monday: Mussey Grade Road Alliance cross-examines SDG&E witnesses Hal Mortier and William Torre
• Tuesday: SDG&E cross-examines the Alliance’s Dr. Joseph Mitchell on fire issues and the Alliance cross-examines SDG&E witness Dr. James Lackritz