Powerlink needs a new route

By: JIM TRAGESER - Staff Writer | Wednesday, September 27, 2006 8:50 PM PDT ∞

Not many people are more tied to their electrical umbilical than I am. Four home computers, about eight video game systems, DVD player, CD player, record player and cassette deck ---- even a laserdisc player and reel-to-reel tape deck! And that's on top of the usual assortment of electrical devices we all have: fridge, washer and dryer, TV, dishwasher and microwave, hair dryer and lights throughout the house.

So I'm certainly at least a little sympathetic to the electrical utilities' argument that they need more flexibility in providing us the current that powers modern living. (At the same time, I have become my father in terms of wandering through the apartment turning off lights behind my kids. At our place, if it's not being used, it's turned off.)

Even given my addiction to modern conveniences, there's just no way I can buy into San Diego Gas & Electric's argument that they ought to be allowed to run a high-capacity line through the desert east of us, the euphemistically named "Sunrise Powerlink."

Earlier this month, a friend came over from Ireland ---- wanted to see the California missions. She also wanted to see the desert, as they're a bit short on those over in Eire. So on our way down from San Luis Obispo, we cut over inland and came back to Escondido via Palm Springs ---- took state Route 78 from the Salton Sea up to Julian. Took in a huge swath of the Anza-Borrego State Park.

It's beautiful out there; one of the few places in our county where you can absolutely get away from civilization. We parked the car and hiked up Split Mountain a bit, enjoyed the pristine serenity and absolute absence of human activity in eye- or earshot.

Then we drove up into Julian and ran over to Santa Ysabel and Palomar Mountain ---- beautiful alpine glens and meadows that took her breath away. God's handiwork can be pretty darn impressive.

And unlikely to be improved by running a couple hundred 160-foot-tall towers all strung together with high-tension power lines through the middle of it all. That sort of eyesore just isn't what a state park is all about. Nor would the hum of the lines exactly preserve the ambience of nature a state park or neighboring Cleveland National Forest is supposed to preserve.

And that's what's really at stake here: Are we going to save a portion of nature for our kids and grandkids? Or should we just say forget it and pave over the whole county?

There are other options for getting the power we need. They may cost more to build and maintain, and we might each have to pay a few more bucks each month for them, but if the alternative is ruining our backcountry wilderness ---- a dedicated state park, no less ---- then I think most of us will be willing to pay those few bucks extra every month.

SDG&E has to get permission to run power lines through a state park or national lands. Meetings are set for next week to gather public input on what issues the necessary environmental impact reports must address ---- you can find the schedule at tinyurl.com/pn8wn. You can also send your concerns via e-mail to sunrise@aspeneg.com or by post to Billie Blanchard, CPUC / Lynda Kastoll, BLM, c/o Aspen Environmental Group, 235 Montgomery St., Suite 935, San Francisco, CA 94104-3002.

Contact staff writer Jim Trageser at (760) 631-6628 or jtrageser@nctimes.com.

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