Hey Environmental Activists,

we're really in a tight spot here and desperately need your help. The dirty electricity-slinger, PG&E that has fought for decades to prevent clean energy alternatives from flourishing in California and recently 'invested' $50 million to thwart state democratic processes (Prop 16) is at the crossroads and is poised to build two (more) fossil-fueled power generating stations within a mile of one another. Contra Costa is already burdened with a disproportionate amount of polluting industry: more than a dozen power plants, five oil refineries, several chemical plants, and many other industrial facilities. Within an approximate six-mile radius of the proposed Marsh Landing facility near Antioch, in 2002 there were at least ten facilities on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) list of major polluting facilities

On May 26, 2010 the Proposed Decision of Public Utilities Commission Administrative Law Judge Farrar found that one of the plants, the Oakley Generating Station, was excessive and should be eliminated from the LTPP decision. Some speculate that PG&E's poor judgment to dump millions of rate-payer dollars into their recent Prop 16 failure had some influence on the proposed decision.

What has happened since June, is that Radback (Oakley Power Station) and the building trades are lobbying the hell out of the commission, and two of the commissioners will be holding an all parties meeting on July 14 where no decisions will be made, but they will be talking and hearing comments from us about alternate decisions. It may put Oakley back on the table. I would say that if you people out there can call each of the commissioners and voice opposition to the power plants, especially the Oakley plant, it could really make a difference! Thanks

Please check out the note below with talking points and phone numbers & post this message wherever you can. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Please CALL each CPUC commissioner TODAY (Phone numbers below) and tell them we're tired of monopolistic ENERGY COMPANY LOBBYISTS telling the California Public Utilities Commission what to do and we won't put up with PG&E and Radback Energy's SHENANIGANS affecting our children's health and out energy future any more!

a lifetime of burden
A lifetime of burden, for the cost of easy profit.

Here's a handful of talking points. Each call shouldn't last more than 3-4 minutes and will be super helpful!

1. PG&E spent some $50million in rate-payer money to effectively eliminate competition portending they are purveyors of 'democratic process.' (What an arrogant sham!)

2. PG&E already has the potential to generate over 30% more power than it supplies in a typical year, even during peak times

3. Contra Costa is burdened with a disproportionate amount of polluting industry: more than a dozen power plants, five oil refineries, several chemical plants, and many other industrial facilities.

4. The cumulative affect of the current stations with the addition of the two proposed power generating stations is dangerous for our children, is overkill and is completely unacceptable.

5. Within an approximate six-mile radius of the proposed Marsh Landing facility near Antioch, in 2002 there were at least ten facilities on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) list of major polluting facilities.

6. The location of the proposed plants is already in the top tenth percentile in the nation for emissions of US EPA “criteria pollutants”

7. According to California Air Resources Board (CARB) data, Contra Costa County has five times the number of facilities that emit “criteria” air pollutants per square mile than the California average.

8. Our elected leaders should be creating incentives for sustainable companies to set up locally, thus creating new jobs for community members, such as those found in the clean tech sector (renewable energy, energy efficiency, and other related industries). They should also be working on developing local green job training programs, especially for young people.

These plants would be run on fossil fuels, which means that not only will they fail to create sustainable jobs, but their emissions will also pollute our environment and cause health problems for our families and neighbors. According to a report recently released by Pacific Environment, a natural gas fired power plant emits chemicals classified by the US EPA as “criteria pollutants”, meaning they are so dangerous that their levels in our air need to be constantly monitored and regulated. This could increase the chances of us developing asthma, cancer, and other diseases that are already too common in East Contra Costa County. The power generating stations, if built will obviously act as a disincentive to pursuing clean energy alternatives.

PLEASE CALL EACH COMMISSIONER TODAY!
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

* Darwin FARRAR- (415) 703-1599
Division of Administrative Law Judges
edf [at] cpuc.ca.gov

* David PECK - (415) 703-1213
Electricity Planning & Policy Branch
dbp [at] cpuc.ca.gov

* Karl MEEUSEN - (415) 703-1567
Energy Division
kkm [at] cpuc.ca.gov

* Matthew TISDALE - (415) 703-5137
Electricity Planning & Policy Branch
mwt [at] cpuc.ca.gov

* STEVEN K. HAINE - (415) 355-5553
Energy Division
shi [at] cpuc.ca.gov

* YULIYA SHMIDT - (415) 703-2719
Energy Pricing & Customer Programs Branch
ys2 [at] cpuc.ca.gov

* ANDREW CAMPBELL - (415) 703-2501
Executive Division
agc [at] cpuc.ca.gov

More Information:

Paul Seger: Clean energy will lift economy

Pacific Environment: Report shows that Proposed Power Plants Could Exacerbate Public Health Impacts in Contra Costa County

May 26, 2010
Decision PROPOSED DECISION OF ALJ FARRAR (Mailed 5/26/2010)
BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/efile/PD/118600.pdf

July 7, 2010 -
COMMENTS OF CONTRA COSTA GENERATING STATION, LLC
ON THE PROPOSED DECISION OF ALJ FARRAR
http://www.pge.com/regulation/LongTermRFO-Solicitation2008-II/Pleadings/ContraCostaGS/2010/LongTermRFO-Solicitation2008-II_Plea_ContraCostaGS_20100707-01.pdf

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