CA Public Utilities Commission to vote on Sunrise Powerlink

December 18, 2008

The future of the contentious Sunrise Powerlink project could be decided today (Thursday) by the California Public Utilities Commission.  The proposal by utility company, SDG&E would run a 100 mile $1.9 billion high-voltage transmission line to San Diego from the eastern deserts of neighboring Imperial County.  Proponents, which include Gov. Schwarzenegger and the PUC president, argue that this is exactly the type of project that is necessary to grow our nation’s renewable energy production.  Since most large-scale renewable resources lie away from urban centers, the electricity generated in these locations must use a new generation of transmission lines to bring the power to cities.  This is the purpose of the Sunrise Powerlink project, according to SDG&E and other supporters. Opponents argue that the renewable energy claim is just a smokescreen for SDG&E, and that the company really intends to use the new lines to transport dirty electricity from its power plant investments in Mexico to the U.S.  Instead, the opposition would rather focus on upgrading the existing grid, increasing energy conservation, and building renewable plants closer to population centers. While we are a green-blog and are big supporters of increased conservation, efficiency, and smart-growth, there seems to us to be something fundamentally flawed in the opponents’ position.  One of the main reasons the green movement in America has historically been relatively small is that many people saw it as unrealistic.  Blocking roads and stopping oil tankers are wonderful positions to take in theory.  But in practice, they only make sense if there are viable alternative that we are shifting towards.  Anti-road only makes sense if you’re actively developing mass transit and anti-oil only makes sense if you’re actively developing renewable energy. In fact, in recent years, it is the shift from idealism to pragmatism that has given the green movement the most support it has ever seen.  Obama, Schwarzenegger, Pickens, and other leaders are not treehuggers– they’re pragmatists.  They recognize that without pursuing environmentally friendly policies, our country and our planet are in grave danger.  As a result, macro-level green policies are being pursued that were unimaginable a decade ago.  Right now, only 12% of California’s electricity comes from renewable sources.  However, by law, that must be increased to 20% by 2010 and 33% by 2020.  It is a hard and cold fact that this electricity must be transported to population centers.  And while opponents would like every building to have solar panels on their roofs, and a wind mill in their backyard, that is unrealistic and not enough.  It is the difference between a bunch of people buying Priuses versus inventing an effective electric car.  A lot of little actions cannot replace transformative change.  This, coupled with the fact that SDG&E has promised to allow no power from coal-fired plants to travel on the line, leads us to believe that it is best for the environment, the state, and the country, to proceed with this project.  Not only will it spur the development of renewable energy in Southern California, but it will provide an example to the rest of the country.  Similar to how California’s Prop 1A has ignited a new interest in high speed rail across the country, so should this project.  Photo credit

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