Greetings,

The San Diego Smart Energy 2020 Proposal Offers a Clean, Reliable Alternative to Sempra's Sunrise Powerlink Proposal, a $9 Billion Extension Cord to Global Warming Fossil Fuels

Write a letter to the editor of the North County Times today!

This has been a busy week for the Sierra Club's San Diego Smart Energy Solutions Campaign to protect Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the Cleveland National Forest and local communities from the unnecessary, devastating Sunrise Powerlink.

On Tuesday, San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre released a comprehensive investigation of SDG&E, Sempra Energy and renewable energy.  One of his startling conclusions is that SDG&E's efforts to pursue renewable energy are "incomplete at best and intentionally compromised at worst."  The City Attorney also finds that Sempra Energy, SDG&E's parent company, is a barrier to renewable energy in the region, citing "Sempra appears to have used the reliable stream of profits provided by SDG&E and its other utility as a foundation for expanding its fossil fuel business." To read the full report, please click HERE.

This is exactly what Sempra is doing in the case of SDG&E's proposed Sunrise Powerlink - using it as a means to connect energy from its new, global warming liquefied natural (LNG) gas terminal in Mexico with the Southern California electricity grid. 

Of course, Sempra and SDG&E have their own spin on the City Attorney's findings.  In a press release, they commented, "To tap these green power supplies, we will need new electric transmission lines."  But, this PR statement directly contradicts what SDG&E Senior Vice President James Avery said under oath last year to the California Public Utilities Commission.  There, Mr. Avery admitted SDG&E doesn't need Sunrise Powerlink to meet state renewable energy mandates!

Unfortunately, in reporting the City Attorney's findings, the North County Times missed the mark when it did not recognize that SDG&E can meet its renewable energy goals without Sunrise Powerlink.  Click HERE to read the article.  We can't let SDG&E and Sempra continue to get away with distorting the facts.  Can you help hold SDG&E accountable by writing a letter to the editor of the North County Times today?

DO YOUR PART: WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR!

WHO: letters@nctimes.com

WHAT: Letters must be less than 150 words and include full name, address and phone number.

TALKING POINTS:

• The recent article, "SDG&E threatened with suit over green energy" fails to mention that an SDG&E Executive testified under oath in front of the California Public Utilities Commission that it can meet short and long-term state renewable energy targets without the Sunrise Powerlink. 
• Thank you to City Attorney Mike Aguirre for his excellent investigation of SDG&E, Sempra and renewable energy.  His findings provide further support that Sunrise Powerlink promises to deliver global warming fossil-fuels from Sempra's new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Mexico.  This leaves our region dependent on imported fossil fuels from overseas, fluctuating commodity prices and unravels efforts to reduce global warming greenhouse gases.
• The more environmentally-responsible plan, San Diego Smart Energy 2020, is consistent with California's energy planning policy and emphasizes clean, local 21st Century infrastructure instead of the outdated, enormously expensive Sunrise Powerlink.
• Independent expert analysis has shown over and over that this line is not needed, because we have smarter, cleaner alternatives.  California taxpayers should not be forced to shell out more than $9 Billion for a glorified extension cord to fossil fuels in order to line the pockets of Sempra Energy Executives and shareholders.

Thank you for doing your part to secure a smarter energy future for our region! We don't need the Sunrise Powerlink.

Best,

Micah

P.S. Please note, my email address has changed.  The new address is micah.mitrosky@sierraclub.org

Sierra Club's Smart Energy Solutions Campaign 3820 Ray Street, San Diego, CA 92104 619-299-1797 www.sdsmartenergy.org micah.mitrosky@sierraclub.org