[pct-l] Seminars on Sunrise Powerlink scheduled

[Brick Robbins]

The proposed Sunrise Powerlink will cross the PCT betwee Mt Laguna &
Warner Springs

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080121-9999-1m21sunrise.html

Workshops will be held next week to help people understand what a
recently released 7,500-page environmental study says about various
routes the proposed Sunrise Powerlink transmission line might take.


The environmental impact report also outlines other options that will
be considered by the state before approving or denying the San Diego
Gas & Electric power line project. The report and workshops are the
work of the California Public Utilities Commission and U.S. Bureau of
Land Management.

SDG&E has proposed building the $1.4 billion, 150-mile-long electric
transmission line to link future energy-generating projects in the
Imperial Valley to San Diego.

Opponents say the line is not needed, would cause irreparable damage
to the environment, and would be a visual blight. Those who live near
the proposed route are also concerned about the effect it would have
on property values.

The proposed route would take the line through Anza-Borrego Desert
State Park and Santa Ysabel Valley, loop south of Ramona and through
Rancho Peñasquitos to Carmel Valley. The line would go underground
near Ramona and in Rancho Peñasquitos.

The environmental report examines the effects SDG&E's route would have
and also details six options. The report concludes that all but one
option would be less damaging to the environment than SDG&E's
proposal.

The report does not address financial issues.

The workshops were set up to answer questions and inform the public
about participating in the decision-making.

The informal two-hour workshops will be followed by public hearings in
late February.

DETAILS
Sunrise Powerlink workshops

Alpine: 7 p.m. Jan. 28, Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Blvd.

Rancho Peñasquitos: 7 p.m. Jan. 29, Hilltop Recreation Center, 9711 Oviedo Way.

Ramona: 2 p.m. Jan. 30, Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane.

Warner Springs: 7 p.m. Jan. 30, Warner School, 30951 state Route 79.

Pine Valley: two Jan. 31 meetings – 3:30 and 7 p.m. at Mountain Empire
High School, 3305 Buckman Springs Road.

Borrego Springs: 1 p.m. Feb. 1, Borrego Springs High School, 2281 Diegueno Road.

To view the entire environmental report go to
www.cpuc.ca.gov/Environment/info/aspen/sunrise/sunrise.htm