Power Plant in Santee

[CEB]

For those that live in Tierrasanta, this meeting may be of interest

Tierrasanta Community Council Meeting –
(Wednesday, March 21, 2012 meeting starts at 6:30 PM)

TIME CERTAIN 8:00PM Item 5: Quail Brush power project (15 min): The project will be presented to the TCC with a Q & A period for the community and members.
Action: The TCC supports or does not support this item.

[BikingScott]

Thanks CEB.
Yes, it seems that this very large "Peaker Plant" has been in the works for quite some time.
For those who don't know what this is, It's official name is the The Quail Brush Power Plant is the official name of the plant. We are calling it the Santee Power Plant because it is really in Santee's front yard! The location is at the corner of Hwy 52 and Mast Blvd. Yes right next to Mission Trails Park, and 1/4 mi from West Hills High School.

The city of Santee officially has no opposition to it because it allows them to continue to plan to build Fanita Ranch, and the folks over at Mission Trails seem to be ok with it due to a proposed land swap of 40 acres just north of 52. (A very, tiny piece of land up Spring Canyon that doesn't even get you to Teote trail otherwise known as "First Left")

We need to get the word out. SDG&E and the city of San Diego have been very sneaky on getting this thing approved very quickly and, I feel, on the sly.

Spread the Word!
Stop the Santee Power Plant | Protect your health and community

[S:Drive]

So we do need more power capacity in San Diego, just look at the black out we had. One dip ****, messed something up in AZ, and we felt the pain.

To play devils advocate, where do you suggest a new power plant? or is this just a case of not in my back yard?

[CEB]

So we do need more power capacity in San Diego, just look at the black out we had. One dip ****, messed something up in AZ, and we felt the pain.

To play devils advocate, where do you suggest a new power plant? or is this just a case of not in my back yard?

The Miramar landfill is soon to be FULL. What a wonderful place to put a plant! Already have aircraft noise/pollution. There is MORE than enough room north of 52 between 15 & hwy 805.

Closer to the users, less transmisison lines also means LESS energy wasted thru longer transmission lines

The 40 acre "tradeout" is a joke

Can you imagine the increased powerlines that go with a p plant. Not only would our PARK be converted to an industrial site, but miles and miles of NEW wires.

[Kristatos]

The Miramar landfill is soon to be FULL. What a wonderful place to put a plant! Already have aircraft noise/pollution. There is MORE than enough room north of 52 between 15 & hwy 805.

Whoa there you go making all sorts of sense. What could also make sense would be upgrading existing power plants, but that wouldn't result in any campaign funds flowing in from out-of-state developers or excuses for SDG&E to ask for massive rate hikes to offset a sparkling new plant full of the latest technology.

[BikingScott]

So we do need more power capacity in San Diego, just look at the black out we had. One dip ****, messed something up in AZ, and we felt the pain.

To play devils advocate, where do you suggest a new power plant? or is this just a case of not in my back yard?

There are many reasons we should oppose the Santee Power Plant.

1 There was already a site selected at the very southeastern portion of SD (Miramar) property that was also adjacent to High Voltage Power Lines, so there would have been no need to string up more high tension power lines. This was also "out of sight, out of mind" so It was not in ANYBODY'S backyard.
The main reason this site failed was due to the city of Santee. THEY WANT FANITA RANCH BUILT! This powerplant would have been right next to the proposed Fanita Ranch project.
2. Another site that was selected but turned down was west of the Miramar LandfillI, and east of I-805. This site also has high tension power lines nearby. I do not know why this site was not selected.
3.Mission Trails Regional Park.
4.1/4 Mi. upwind of West Hills H.S. Do we want our kids breathing the fumes from this thing?
5.There are political reasons that SDG&E want's this built, other than the simple need for a "peaker plant to augment green sources of power"

[John Kuhl]

Also with the San Onofre problems we really need a new power
plant. I still think that the Miramar location is the best bet. If something
isn't done soon we will have problems this summer when it heats up.

Best, John

[bankerboy]

I like the fact SDGE can come in and destroy habitat for a land swap. As a rider, you are about to lose much of the trails back in Oak and Spring (beyond the military closure) because the trails are unsustainable according to planners.

The park personnel are allowing property to be bought by the highest bider. The whole conservation aguments become moot. Now it becomes an exchage process. The spoils system is alive and well. The trail users are being shut out by big check books.

[John Kuhl]

Please everyone don't take this wrong, but when it comes to power
plants and housing nobody gives a damn about us trail users. It really
sucks, but I don't think there is much we can do. Money talks.

Best, John

[bankerboy]

I understand that. My point is why have all these community input meetings to imporve the park trail system when in reality, it won't happen. Yet SDGE can come in and do as they please?

Somebody better explain this smoke up my a$$.

[mealsonwheels]

I completely agree bankerboy. We can't even get singletrack countor trails around Fortuna, but there's a way to contstruct a massive equestrian parking lot that equestrians don't use and a peaker power plant that will be used a handful of times a year. Thank God for guys like Rich Julien and Kevin Mortensen that have the tenacity to continue to try to work with public agencies. I lost patience a long time ago.

[Kristatos]

Looks like the SD city council voted unanimously against changing zoning to allow this power plant. Not the final say, but the energy commission takes these things into consideration, so a step in the right direction.

[bankerboy]

^^^ Awesome, but....

SD rejects power plant targeted for open space | UTSanDiego.com

Lori Ziebart, the project manager for the power plant project, said she was not dissuaded by the council’s decision.

“We respect their decision and we will move forward full-steam ahead,” she said. “It’s always challenging siting a power plant, but we have some community support and we believe (the power plant) is needed.”


I guess us stupid people don't know what we need. Good thing they are looking out for us.

My next question is how can a private entity tell the city they have to use the land in ways other that what it is dictated for? I always thougth emanate domain was a tool used by government to get private property. So now it appears that it could be used in reverse? Cool, I can think of a lot of city property I want to convert to my personal preserve. Let's see... there is that huge waste of land by the bay they keep landing those airplanes or maybe I will work on securing Fiesta Island. I could put in a drawbridge and then....sigh

[Kristatos]

There's tons of "open space" in San Diego that ends up getting developed. I would bet 90% of the development through the last 20 years was on land designated as open space at some point. It's not the same thing as the Feds designating something as "wilderness". I guess I don't understand how it works either - but obviously the developers do. My interpretation was that the state energy commission could still green-light the project against the two city's wishes (SD & Santee), the statement from the developer is what you'd expect until they've run out of options.

[Call_me_Tom]

The Power Plant is more than likely going to be built, where I don't know. I do know that the Onofre plant will probably never come back on line & Camp Pendleton is looking at building a solar farm on the base for power. Right now, Pendleton is buying its power from OC.

[Klurejr]

those with the money make the rules.

[ocd]

for the 26 acre dump expansion that was just approved.

Maybe they will light the fire roads, for better night riding?

Sycamore Landfill Expansion Approved After Years of Litigation - Santee, CA Patch

[mealsonwheels]

Don't forget to stay on trail. The area around here is sensitive habitat...except for the additional 26 acres Sycamore Landfill needed to dump a mtn of trash onto...oh yeah and the 22 acres that the power plant will be using. Besides that, this area is sensitive habitat...unless we need more space for Sycamore Landfill in 10 more years.