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Community Corner

40 Protest Quail Brush Power Plant During Santee Morning Commute

Pickets against the proposed peaker plant rally at Mast Boulevard and West Hills Parkway.

More than 40 people showed up outside the gates of the Sycamore landfill Monday morning to protest a proposed power plant near Santee.

“I know we need power, but we don’t need a plant here, so close to homes and schools. … Put it in an industrial area somewhere, not here” said Pat Janowski, one of the protesters carrying picket signs at Mast Boulevard and West Hills Parkway.

The plant, classified as a “peaker” plant, would be used to supplement SDG&E’s available power in case of heat overload or blackouts on the overall system.

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Cogentrix, the North Carolina-based company that wants to build the plant, says it would only run at 43 percent capacity, and would be entirely natural gas-fired.

The opposition, which has coalesced around a website, StoptheSanteePowerPlant.org, is demanding the California Energy Commission  evaluate the company’s application as running at 100 percent capacity.

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Opponents say they fear the chemicals the 100-mega-watt plant would spew pollution into the atmosphere, and they don’t think the plant would run only at times of need.

The Energy Commission has scheduled a March 22 hearing for public input, but opponents say they are raising money for a possible court fight if the CEC decision goes against them.

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