All five California Public Utilities Commissioners traveled to San Marcos for Thursdays CPUC meeting. While the Golden Pacific Powerlink was not on their agenda, it was an invaluable early engagement opportunity for residents to speak during non-agenda public comment. The Commissioners heard a clear, united message from our region:
It was standing room only inside the chambers. We used our one minute to introduce our communities, share our lived experiences and voice a variety of concerns and questions about the 145-mile, 500 kilovolt transmission line with 191-foot tall towers which could devastate the communities and lands its proposed to route through.
Elected representatives from City, County and State levels stood alongside residents, farmers and business owners, representing Imperial, San Diego, Riverside and Orange Counties, speaking in opposition to SDG&E’s destructive Golden Pacific Powerlink.
Communities from across the region showed up in solidarity, many wearing yellow. Save Fallbrook, Save Palomar Mountain, Save Temecula, Save Pauma Valley, Save Ocotillo Wells, Save Warner Springs, Save Ranchita, and more spoke with one voice against the Powerlink.
Resident after resident stepped forward sharing concerns about elevated fire risk, evacuation constraints, aerial firefighting hazards, environmental destruction, threats to the Santa Margarita watershed, decreased property values, insurability, eminent domain, rising utility costs and the lack of need for this massive project. The objection was raised multiple times that this project would not directly serve the communities its proposed to route through. Effective past public opposition precedent from the Sunrise and Serrano transmission projects were also referenced.
Young residents participated – a Fallbrook mom brought her two sons, to experience the importance of participating in the public process to help protect their community. Her six year old son presented a locally grown sunflower to each of the Commissioners with a handwritten note attached to each stem. Her nine year old son shared his concerns and asked the Commissioners, “what problem is this solving? My parents bills will get more expensive.”
The Commissioners listened attentively and appeared engaged during the more than three hours of public testimony from 80+ in-person speakers. After in-person testimony, there were 30 callers by phone in the queue.
A handful of supporters spoke in favor of the project including union reps, the San Diego Builders Association and San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.
SDG&E staff was present (with a security guard), and did not speak publicly.
The CPUC is the State governing body who will review and make decisions on SDG&E’s application for Golden Pacific Powerlink. SDG&E plans to file their project application with the CPUC in November.
The regional unity against Golden Pacific Powerlink is growing. This is only the beginning. The diverse opposition will be hard to ignore.
To stay informed on project updates and upcoming events and opportunities, visit savefallbrook.org
Press release submitted by Save Fallbrook
