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San Diego Workshop Evaluates Controversial Large Solar and Wind Projects, Desert Conservation, “Rooftop” Solar and Distributed Energy Opportunities in Mexico and the U.S.
March 14, 2012 (San Diego) — Indigenous leaders from San Diego County and across the state are set to meet with renewable energy and conservation experts, and lawmakers in a workshop on Friday, March 16, to evaluate strategies for renewable energy implementation in Southern California and Northern Baja California, Mexico.
Controversial energy projects in the Southwest deserts have raised concerns about large-scale impacts to desert ecosystems, endangered and threatened species and Native American cultural resources. Several legal challenges by tribal and environmental groups are being heard in Federal Courts in the United States and Mexico. Projects have repeatedly been stopped and delayed.
The workshop will focus on the best ideas and strategies for implementing renewable energy in Southern California and Northern Baja California, Mexico in an environmentally and culturally respectful manner. Participants will discuss appropriate criteria for decision-making.
Workshop speakers include dignitaries Daniel J. Tucker, Chairman of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, Chairman Anthony Pico of Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians and Chairman Charles Wood of the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe.
They will be joined by experts and lawmakers including statewide and national energy consultant Bill Powers, P.E., Powers Engineering, Terra Peninsular Executive Director, Saul Alarcon Farfan, former Mexican Congressman Jaime Martinez Veloz, former San Diego Trial Judge and attorney, Robert C. Coates, Attorney Cory Briggs, Congressman Bob Filner, San Diego Supervisor Dianne Jacob, and others.
Terra Peninsular is sponsoring the event. Terra Peninsular is a science-based nonprofit organization that conserves and protects the natural and cultural heritage in the Californias for future generations. For more than 10 years Terra Peninsular has worked to protect the ecosystems integrity of the bi-national region.
The conference will be held Friday, March 16, at the U.S. Grant Hotel, 326 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101, from 8:30 am. to 1:00 pm. The event is open to the press and public by invitation only. Inquiries should be directed to Saul Alarcon Farfan media@terrapeninsular.org or Bill Powers bpowers@powersengineering.com.
Comments
"Renewable energy"
For years, many of us have fought to limit development on private land in and around our state and national parks. Now, with the full blessing so-called "environmentalists" and liberal policy makers, San Diego stands to lose thousands and thousands of acres of precious wilderness all over the county to hideously ugly, noisy, raptor killing "wind farms." That local tribes would be involved in this farcical rape of mother nature only intensifies the irony which, as I've noted before, isn't nearly a strong enough word for this spectacle.
PS--Local tribes being the
PS--Local tribes being the Campo reservation which, I believe, had one of the first large wind farms in the county.