Story and photos by Nadin Abbott

July 19, 2012 (San Diego)--The San Diego Planning Commission voted not to green light the East Elliot Community Plan Amendment that would have allowed Cogentrix Energy LLC to go forward with the Quail Brush natural gas-fired power plant near Mission Trails Regional Park.

The City Council now has the opportunity to weigh in on the controversial project, which has generated near-unanimous community opposition.

July 19, 2012 (Lemon Grove) – A SIG ALERT has been issued for eastbound Highway 94, where an overturned trash truck is blocking access to northbound SR-125.

“It was an EDCO trash truck laying on its side with its wheels pointed south,” El Cajon Councilman Gary Kendrick told ECM, who drove past the incident moments ago.

Reprinted with permission from Voice of San Diego: 

http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/opinion/article_ff320244-d065-11e1-9a2e-001a4bcf887a.html

July 16, 2012 (El Cajon) – Sgt. Nicholas C. Fredsti  valiantly served  six tours of duty—three in Iraq and three in Afghanistan.  But the U.S. Army paratrooper was killed in Afghanistan’s Ghazni Province on June 15, 2012, the Pentagon reports. 

By Miriam Raftery

July 16, 2012 (Alpine) – The Alpine Community Planning Group meets on Thursday, July 26 at 6 p.m. in the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Boulevard. 

The agenda includes an opportunity for planners to ask questions of community members interested in being recommended for appointment to fill a vacant seat.  The planning group previously recommended Charles Kaderabek for the slot; however he withdrew his name after revelations of tax debts, lawsuits and a lapsed law license have surfaced.

By Nadin Abbott
Photos by Tom and Nadin Abbott 

By Miriam Raftery

July 11, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather warning for San Diego’s inland areas that includes multiple perils.  An excessive heat warning continues, with temperatures up to 118 degrees forecast for desert areas.

In addition, thunderstorms are possibly Thursday afternoon through Friday morning, producing lightning, gusty winds, hail and light to moderate rainfall.  A flash flood watch has also been issued, as well as a fire weather watch.

By Miriam Raftery

July 7, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – If a bill passed by the Assembly and by a key State Senate Committee becomes law, San Diego County residents could be forced to pay for development of massive wind and solar projects in rural East County through property taxes—even though the projects are opposed by numerous area residents.

Sponsored by San Diego legislators Ben Hueso and Juan Vargas, AB 2551 would provide a fresh source of funding for energy companies pushing large wind and solar projects, since federal subsidies expire at year’s end. Both Vargas and Hueso have accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the electric utilities industry. 

The bill has drawn outraged reactions from key community leaders, who note that backers have vested interests in massive-scale energy projects and transmission lines proposed here. The measure is also opposed by the California Taxpayers Association and the California Association of Realtors.