Greetings,

Local Community Members Rally for 21st Century Energy Alternatives. Sempra Energy's Unnecessary Fossil-Fueled Sunrise Powerlink Proposal is Standing in the Way of Better, Smarter Energy Solutions for San Diego.

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

Our San Diego Smart Energy Solutions campaign to protect Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the Cleveland National Forest and local communities from SDG&E's unnecessary, destructive Sunrise Powerlink proposal needs you to take immediate action!

Yesterday, the North County Times ran an exciting story that featured smart energy solutions in action. The paper reported that a new large-scale solar project at the Valley Center Municipal Water District will be finished soon.  Not only will this project help reduce global warming greenhouse gases by supplying clean renewable power, it can save the water district an amazing $1.5 million!  To read the full story, click HERE.

Contrast this 21st century approach with SDG&E's unnecessary Sunrise Powerlink proposal, a fossil-fueled project that would be a barrier to clean, renewable energy in our region. We know there are smarter energy solutions! For example, the San Diego Smart Energy 2020 proposal offers a mix of incentives that would boost large solar infrastructure projects in San Diego like the ones talked about in this article.

Do your part to protect our park, forest and local communities from the proposed Sunrise Powerlink by writing a letter to the editor of the North County Times! This simple, effective action will help amplify our message that the unnecessary, global warming Sunrise Powerlink is standing in the way of better, smarter energy alternatives for San Diego.

Helpful tips, contact information and talking points are outlined below.

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:

• Re: "VALLEY CENTER: Solar plant to be finished in two months," aren't these the kinds of 21st century solutions our region should be pursuing instead of an old-fashioned, fossil-fueled proposal like SDG&E's harmful Sunrise Powerlink?
• As the article points out, large-scale solar projects will save money, create green jobs and reduce global warming greenhouse gases while moving us toward energy independence. By contrast, Sunrise Powerlink will cost ratepayers dearly, increase global warming greenhouse gases, unnecessarily destroy local communities and open spaces and block our transition to renewable energy for generations.
• The more practical, environmentally-responsible plan, San Diego Smart Energy 2020, can be jump-started with the right package of incentives, just like those discussed in this article.
• As this article aptly points out, we have smarter energy alternatives than SDG&E's Sunrise Powerlink, an expensive glorified extension cord to fossil fuels. Now is the time for San Diego's leaders to take action to boost smart energy incentives and oppose the unnecessary Sunrise Powerlink proposal.

After you send your letter to the editor, feel free to email your letter to me in a SEPARATE email at micah.mitrosky@sierraclub.org. Don't copy me when you send your letter, because it is less likely to be published.

Best,

Micah

P.S. The Sierra Club San Diego Smart Energy Solutions Campaign has moved along with our local Chapter office! We can now be reached at our new location and phone number below.

Sierra Club's Smart Energy Solutions Campaign 8304 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Ste. 101 San Diego, CA 92111 858-569-0294 www.sdsmartenergy.org micah.mitrosky@sierraclub.org