MAYORAL CANDIDATE FILNER URGES PLANNING COMMISSION TO OPPOSE ILL-CONCEIVED SANTEE POWER PLANT

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April 26, 2012 (San Diego) -- U.S. Congressman and Mayoral candidate Bob Filner spoke in front of the San Diego Planning Commission today to oppose the “Quail Brush” Power Plant, slated for construction next to the San Diego Mission Trails Regional Park. The site is within the City of San Diego, but will have negative impacts in neighboring Santee. The Planning Commission was deliberating on the decision to re-zone the proposed location from “open space” to “industrial use.”

 

Filner joined environmental groups, community organizations, and the entire Santee City Council in opposing the power plant. The proposed location is a few hundred yards from West Hills High and the West Hills Little League baseball fields. “There is absolutely no reason why we should be exposing our children to dangerous and life-threatening toxins and decreasing our local air quality,” said Filner.

 
The power plant would be a few feet from Mission Trails Park. Filner warned of the threat posed by pollution to the park. “Mission Trails Park is a local natural treasure, enjoyed by cyclists, runners, and nature enthusiasts. It is wrong for us to knowingly harm the environmental quality of the park.”
 
Filner noted that the power plant is wholly inconsistent with the community plan and identity, and poses a serious public safety hazard. “Installing a gas-powered plant in an area ravaged by the 2003 wildfires makes little sense. As a region, we should be investing in solar power and clean energy, not threatening our environment and the health of our communities,” said Filner.
 
Filner called on the City of San Diego to embrace the challenge of becoming America’s “Greenest” City. “As Mayor, I will direct the city to work with the School District, the County, and the Port to bring clean power to public buildings and to help make solar power accessible to all.”

 


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