I’m always concerned when groups pushing a project give it a cute name. The Sunrise Powerlink is such a project. Wouldn’t it be better to call it the “Desert to Del Mar Overhead Transmission Line Project”? This project will impact local residents, running larger transmission towers down the southern edge of the community, right into Torrey Hills. And, while it’s not exactly part of the proposal, eventually more lines will run on the north-south corridor, passing over St. Therese of Carmel and the Pacific Athletic Club, and close to Torrey Pines High School (SDG&E has made an independent filing about this expansion.)

Obviously, I’m against this project. When SDG&E announces they won’t purchase power from proposed new facilities in Carlsbad and Chula Vista, then claims they won’t have enough generation capacity for the future, how can you be anything but cynical. From an article in the North County Times (9/17/06), Laura Copic tells us:

Our reasons for opposing the Sunrise Powerlink are twofold. First, this “transmission first” strategy appears to be in contradiction to the Energy Action Plan and the San Diego Regional Energy Strategy 2030, which stress energy efficiency, reducing demand, producing power in-county and renewables before transmission as preferred strategies to attaining our future energy needs. Second, this transmission line would be a visible, audible blight upon our state park and local preserves as well as a fire and health hazard to nearby residents.

For additional information, see:

• The Carmel Valley Concerned Citizens web page provides local information.
• The Desert Protective Council page gives information from the Borrego Springs viewpoint.
• The SDG&E Sunrise Powerlink page gives the marketing info from SDG&E.