By Nadin Abbott

March 22, 2012 (San Diego) Updated 11 p.m.--On March 20, Mexico City was rattled by the strongest earthquake since 1985. The 1985 quake had an intensity of 8.1 on the Richter scale and lasted 90 to 120 seconds. It rattled a country that had no civil defense system to speak off, one where a halting government response left a lot to be desired.

In contrast, on Tuesday the city was shaken by a 7.8 quake. Major buildings were evacuated in good order. Damage and injuries in the urban area were kept to a minimum, while in rural areas, prompt action by authorities helped to save lives.

By Serena Scaglione

March 21, 2012- The California Energy Commission (CEC) will hold a workshop at 5 p.m. this Thursday, March 22 at Mission Trails to discuss the proposed Quail Brush Generation Project being developed by Quail Brush Genco, LLC, a subsidiary of Cogentrix Energy.

According to project documents, the Quail Brush Generation Project is a 100-megawatt natural gas power plant under long-term contract with SDG&E. The power plant is designed to support renewable resources and deliver power only when needed.

Two passengers were in the vehicle when the accident occurred.  Multiple parties called 911, but death of the driver was pronounced at the scene.  California Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.  

Fallen trees block roads in Pine Valley and Rancho San Diego

March 19, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A weather-related problem with a power pole has left 38 utility customers without power in the East Descanso, Green Valley Falls and Cuyamaca areas. 

Update 10:45 a.m.  I-8 is now reopened in both directions.

Update: At 9:09 a.m. CHP's wesite reports they are escorting traffic through and expect to reopen I-8 soon following snow-ploughing.  

March 18, 2012 (El Cajon) -- At 7:43 p.m. March 15, Heartland Fire & Rescue in El Cajon, with assistance from the San Miguel Fire Protection District, responded to reports of a structure fire in the 500 block of East Madison Avenue in El Cajon. As crews arrived on scene heavy smoke was seen coming from a single-story home at 593 East Madison Avenue. Quick action by firefighters had the fire knocked down in less than 15 minutes. According to Monica Zech of Heartland Fire & Rescue, the home was reportedly abandoned, with windows boarded up, but was full of household items and debris. There were no injuries reported.

March 17, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Numerous accidents and traffic hazards pose risks to motorists across our region on this rainy, windy afternoon. Hazards include:

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Incident cost local restaurant money , highlights risk to ratepayers with medical needs

March 14, 2012 (La Mesa) – After ECM received a question from a reader about a power outage that began Friday night, March 2 and extended until Saturday morning, March 3, we contacted SDG&E.  SDG&E spokesperson Alison Zaragosa initially said that all  2800 customers left in the dark were notified via letters mailed February 14 of the planned outage to repair an underground cable.

But after La Mesa Patch ran a story about losses incurred by Riviera Steakhouse, whose owner said he was never informed of the outage, other community members came forward to say that they, too, did not receive notification.  So we called SDG&E again. 

“We did investigate and we did miss 200 to 300,” Zaragosa told ECM.

2 Fukushima-area residents to tell stories; celebrities to join rally

Update March 12:  View a video of the rally www.youtube.com/watch

Video: Fukushim survivors speak: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWKHtIUqnOQ&feature=email

March 9, 2012 (SAN ONOFRE) – Activists from San Diego to Eureka will converge at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS,) just south of San Clemente, on the first anniversary of the devastating Fukushima disaster, March 11, 2012. The peaceful protest will occur a short walk from San Onofre State Beach about 1/8 mile south of the SONGS facility.

By Miriam Raftery

March 5, 2012 (Jacumba) – County Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution to support a state grant for improvements to the runway at the Jacumba Airport.  Located one mile east of Jacumba on Old Highway 80, the airport is mainly used as a glider facility for sailplanes and single-engine aircraft.