EarthTalk®

E - The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard that the price of getting solar panels installed on a home is lower than ever, but has it gotten to the point anywhere in the U.S. where it’s actually cheaper than traditional grid power yet?                             --Lester Milstein, Boston, MA

November 29, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) - Rooftop solar panels on have always been the province of well-to-do, eco-friendly folks willing to shell out extra bucks to be green, but that is all starting to change. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the cost of putting solar panels on a typical American house has fallen by some 70 percent over the last decade and a half. And a recent report from Deutsche Bank shows that solar has already achieved so-called “price parity” with fossil fuel-based grid power in 10 U.S. states. Deutsche Bank goes on to say that solar electricity is on track to be as cheap or cheaper than average electricity-bill prices in all but three states by 2016—assuming,that is, that the federal government maintains the 30 percent solar investment tax credit it currently offers homeowners on installation and equipment costs.

November 30, 2014 (El Cajon)—A death reported as a suicide is now being investigated by Sheriff’s homicide investigators due to “some unusual circumstances, said Lieutenant John Maryon, who did not provide details.

November 29, 2014 (San Diego)—A masked man armed with a gun broke into a home on 67^th Street in the College area Friday morning, terrorizing a wheelchair-bound woman with cerebral palsy.

By Miriam Raftery

November 29, 2014 (San Diego)--The holiday shopping is here, and the County wants to remind consumers to double-check receipts  and make sure you’re not getting overcharged by faulty cash register price scanners.

November 28, 2014 (El Cajon)--Heartland Fire and Rescue is now collecting toys for those in need during the holidays.  Bring your new unwrapped toy to the El Cajon fire department headquarters located at 100 E. Lexington Avenue during business hours, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and alternate Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Or, bring your toy to the live KOGO radio news broadcast of the Fire Truck/Toy Parade on Saturday, December 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the Target parking lot at 250 Broadway, in El Cajon.

“Without significant input from the public, from you, this juggernaut will proceed relentlessly, sacrificing millions of acres of desert habitat, wasting precious groundwater, degrading air quality, and “taking” endangered species and other wildlife.” —David Garmon, Borrego Springs, petition author

By Miriam Raftery

November 28, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Environmentalists have launched a petition at Moveon.org asking the public to sign in opposition to the Desert Renewable Energy Plan, which would open up millions of acres of California deserts to industrial-scale wind and solar projects. Instead, environmental leaders want the California Energy Commission to do an analysis of rooftop solar as an alternative. 

You can sign the petition here:  http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/we-dont-have-to-sacrifice?source=c.em.mt&r_by=1516679

The petition states: “More renewable energy is available from rooftop solar in San Diego and Los Angeles Counties than will be derived from the siting of utility-scale generating facilities on 2 million acres of desert habitat called for in the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan. The unintended consequences of utility-scale facilities in the desert are becoming known and are unacceptable--dust storms in Lancaster, midair incineration of birds at Ivanpah, depletion of scarce groundwater in Borrego Springs.”

The petition was started by Borrego Springs resident David Garmon, president of the Tubb Canyon Desert Conservancy. It is supported by the Desert Protective Council in San Diego and by Basin and Range Watch, another southwest environmental protection organization.

By Miriam Raftery

November 29, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Looking for some original gift ideas this holiday season – as well as a way to support local merchants and infuse our own economy? Never fear. East County Magazine’s annual “Gifts from the East” features an array of unique specialty items from East County and San Diego’s inland region, with something to suit every budget.

Whether you’re looking for gourmet goodies from local farms, hand-crafted musical instruments, glitzy jewelry, hand-woven clothing and toys, soaps, cowboy boots or a surprise for the wine lover on your list, you’ll find it all right here in our region.

November 26, 2014 (La Mesa)-Sharp Grossmont Hospital is pleased to announce that Daniel Kindron has been named Chief Financial Officer of its 536-bed acute care hospital.  Kindron has been with Sharp Grossmont Hospital since 2006. During his time at Sharp he has fulfilled interim CFO duties and served as Finance Director, Manager, Supervisor, and Senior Financial Analyst.

By Miriam Raftery

November 28, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – A petition launched on Change.org by  Nahren Nora, an Iraqi-American woman in Michigan, is asking President Barack Obama and Congress to” arm Christians in Iraq and grant them their ancestral land of the Nineveh Province before they face extinction.”

By Miriam Raftery

November 20, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – As part of our coverage of Native American Heritage Month,  East County Magazine Show’s Bookshelf host Reina Menasche interviewed local writer Paula Margulies. She is the author of Favorite Daughter, Part I, a story about Pocahontas told from a Native American point of view.  She has also written a novel, Coyote Moon, set on the Pala Indian Reservation here in San Diego’s inland region.

Listen to our interview with Paula Margulies, originally aired on KNSJ radio, now online here: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...