voiceofsandiego.org: Letters... Hope for the Future

Monday, April 21, 2008 | Once again, without VOSD's and Rob Davis' excellent coverage on the tribulations of the Sunrise Powerlink, we'd be, for the most part, in the dark on this critical infrastructure initiative.

On Thursday last, Mr. Davis shared with us the news that an Irish Company, NTR plc, had bought into Stirling Energy, the Phoenix-based solar energy producers contracted with SDG&E to provide renewable energy sources to our region. As published, the initialization of this technology will deliver electricity to 200,000 homes and ultimately, when brought to full fruition, will give San Diego its richly deserved bragging rights as being the home to the largest solar collector in the world, creating new jobs, an eco-tourism industry and sustaining our region's reputation as a leader in innovative technologies that provide solutions to our collective regional and global problems rather than renewing our slavish dependence upon the filthy and poisonous policies of the past. This news offers us hope for the future. I believe it's now incumbent upon all of us as ratepayers, stockholders and citizen activists to firmly, by any and all means necessary, insist that the utility cooperate fully with Stirling Energy and NTR plc in building this project. Again, thanks to voiceofsandiego.org and Mr. Davis for the continuing coverage and this recent "enlightenment."

Mr. Griffiths, Rob does a great job covering this stuff, but the UT did a comprehensive story on this investment and actually talked to all parties -- investors and line opponents. I have to say, I am a little surprised the environmental community is so negative about a massive solar energy project. I know they don't like power lines, but please let's not throw out the baby with the bath water. Anything that stifles innovation in alternative energy is anti-Earth!

Posted by In the dark? | reply to this comment
April 22, 2008 2:29 pm

Thanks to-In the dark?- for casting a healthy beam of light upon the myopia of our current cast of environmental leaders.I was weaned on Rachel Carson and believe that this project brings to us a healthy set of solutions to her prophetic admonitions and warnings all those many years ago.On the face of it the VOSD reportage is worthy of commendation, however, as our ecological friends will hasten to say, the devil, when dealing with the Utility,is always in the details.Personally,a the risk of seeming heretical and callous,I'd trade 10,000 sq acres of cactus and lizards for this incredible boon in a New York minute..but then I'm really truly impatient and embarrassed that its taken an Irish Company to see the merit and the virtue that their investment in Stirling holds out to this region and our progeny. Thanks again to In the Dark and VOSD's Rob Davis.

Posted by Jack Griffiths | reply to this comment
April 22, 2008 3:59 pm

Are you guys done with each other yet?

Posted by Christopher Hall | reply to this comment
April 23, 2008 8:37 pm

I am literally amazed at In the Dark, a cool aid drinker if I ever saw one, along with said Griffiths. You have got to be kidding about an unproven dish technology that even SCE abandoned for solar. Where have you both been? Too long in the dark????? And, by the way, those dishes wouldn't be in San Diego County - so sorry, no bragging rights even if they worked. I am sure the Dublin crowd has their caveats worked out on this investment. Somebody got busy because the heat is on in the hearings.

Posted by Doubter | reply to this comment
April 23, 2008 10:46 pm

This latest post,with the requisite personal attacks and mis-information sounds and smells like the PR guys for the Duke Nuclear Power-plant initiative,or perhaps,the Utility sowing discord? Unlikely that a company,without the local entanglements,would pour $100 million into an unproven technology.The only heat being applied is to the Utility.In all the hearings I attended I never heard the same story twice only volumes of the same toxicity echoed by Doubter.

Posted by Jack Griffiths | reply to this comment
April 24, 2008 9:09 am

5. Jack Griffiths wrote on April 24, 2008 10:09 AM: "This latest post,with the requisite personal attacks and mis-information sounds and smells like the PR guys for the Duke Nuclear Power-plant initiative.......... And Jack you sound like the PR cheerleader for Peters, if you're not Peters himself.

Posted by Billy Bob Henry | reply to this comment
April 24, 2008 2:54 pm

Saturday's U-T:Our San Diego section,page 5, Letters to the Editor:Regional Chamber welcomes solar Plant:If history is prolog to the future the Stirling/NTR initiative will be still-born with mid-wives such as these.Predictably we'll be seeing the myopic environmental leadership joining with this champion of local monopoly capital to undermine and ultimately destroy this long sought after,much needed,and healthy solution.Especially, in spite of,the absolute needs of its other dues paying members and those well intentioned and constructive folks of all stripes who hope to see the regional benefits of a responsible Gaylord or Charger initiative in the South Bay. Has the SDRCC come to its senses finally or is this letter simply a backhanded soliciation of an enhancement of the Utility's dues to the Chamber? Oh what wondrous webs we weave once we practice to deceive. Mark me, extremely skeptical, at best.

Posted by Jack Griffiths | reply to this comment
April 26, 2008 10:43 am

Hope for the Future

By Jack Griffiths, Park West