PLANNING COMMISSION PULLS PLUG ON QUAIL BRUSH POWER PLANT AMENDMENT

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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.

Before the item came to the floor, Commissioner Robert Griswold recused himself. He owns stock in Sempra Energy and he stated the Office of the City Attorney has never clarified to him if there is a conflict of interest.

Commission Mary Lydon, who also faced scrutiny due to her close ties to a Cogentrix lobbyist, cast the deciding vote to block the Cogentrix power plant to move forward.

Also voting in favor of the motion to deny the amendment were Chairman Eric Naslund, Stephen Haase, and Susan Pearson. Michael Smiley voted against the motion to deny the project. He wanted to let the plan continue.

Chairman Naslund reminded the applicant that Cogentrix "can take it to City Council."

The vote last time was 3-2, but per city rules the motion had to be continued because the rules require four votes to allow it to advance.

Pete Hassapopoulos with the San Diego Sierra Club reminded ECM of the potential vast megawatt production utilizing rooftop solar in our region. "It is a terrible location," he said of the proposed Quail Brush site.  "This plant isn't needed (and) it is part of an SDG&E plan to keep us on fossil fuels."

According to Lori Ziebart, Project Manager for the plant, this is "a very emotional issue," and the people should allow the California Energy Commission (CEC) to make its recommendations. "We plan to appeal and make our case to the City Council."

She added, "We are disappointed. It is a good project. We feel we meet (all) the criteria."  She also wished people kept an open mind.

When ECM asked what she expected to face with City Council, she said, “It is difficult to predict the reaction."

Ziebart also pointed out that the plant would produce 150 contraction jobs over 18 months, and 11 full time jobs in the region.

Councilman Jack Dale from the Santee City Council told ECM that there are several reasons why the project should not go forward.  It is inappropriate use of the land, it will be besides the highway, and this facility will ultimately be owned by Goldman Sachs, who will benefit from public land by essentially rezoning it, Dale said.  Also, he pointed out that with California Cap and Trade laws, we will lose credits we otherwise might need.

After the vote, he told ECM that the City of Santee is looking at energy cooperatives, rooftop solar in both business and residential. He bluntly put it, "We will do what we need to do for the city of Santee." He added pointedly, "You can't build power anywhere you want to."

Tina Nagel of Santee told ECM that while she is "very happy.” She believes that “we still need to be very active since the CEC could overrule and build it anyway." She added that we must "give kudos to Haase, Lydon, Peerson and Naslund for doing the right thing for Santee."

In the end, the fight moves to the next level but, according to Ziebart the process is already moving in parallel with the CEC. If the City Council agrees to hear the initiation, the CEC has the authority to overrule any decision that the Council makes. 

The CEC has overruled local government bodies in the past, though it has also opted against exerting that authority on some projects.

For the project to move forward, SDG&E also must obtain procurement approval from the California Public Utilities Commission ((CPUC).  “They must show a need for this,” said Hassapopoulos.   

 

 

 

 


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Comments

Hallelujah! This is an

Hallelujah! This is an important victory, and a glimmer of light in the darkness that was created by the (impending) wind farm fiascos in Ocotillo and Boulevard. 

Great news!

Thanks to the SD Planning Commission who acknowledged that this proposal does not provide public benefits and is not in keeping with the San Diego general plan. We need more rooftop solar and conservation... not more power plants.