Collinsworth: Follow the Quail Brush Money

In response to and

The is only part of the story. The problem is the context of the total dollars flowing from SDG&E/Cogentrix (who are joined at the hip by a Power Producing Agreement) and the targets of their blatant attempts to buy political favor.

The sorry state of the budget in the City of San Diego and the cuts to the park and recreation budget has left more dependent upon private sources. For example, the Mission Trails campground is now closed due to a lack of operating funds. This reality leads to a jurisdiction that must consider whether to approve the project in a situation where it can be overly influenced by entities that wish to purchase favorable decisions.

and is not much different than defecating in your own kitchen– so the decision for the local jurisdiction to oppose it should be a no-brainer. Unfortunately, it isn’t that way because of the .

It is clear that the Cogentrix/SDG&E partnership has expended a minimum of $125,000 to Mission Trails alone. This figure doesn’t even consider their contributions to other environmental “watchdog” organizations or to the campaigns of political candidates.

The dollars contributed for political favor are in sharp contrast with Cogentrix objection to paying more for synthetic lube oils that, according to their own documents, would eliminate 4.5 tons of toxic sulfur dioxide emissions per year. They expect you to pay for the cost of the filthy air that delivers their profits.

It is also disturbing that Cogentrix has before the project can even be submitted to the City of San Diego for consideration. Who requested the “agreed” level of mitigation and under what authority? The has not even made a decision on whether to allow the initiation of an application for the proposed parcel site to change the numerous laws, ordinances, regulations and standards (LORS) that the project conflicts with. And the issue of initiation has been continued by the Commission twice after .

Make no mistake- the (which Cogentrix doesn’t even own!) is in the heart of the Mission Trails Park expansion area. The parcel includes a planned trail and the power plant would be within yards of a parcel already acquired for park conservation. The value of the millions invested in over 700-acres of the Mission Trails Park expansion area to date would be severely diminished. Incentive for ongoing public investments would be diminished.

Furthermore, the only confidence that I have in the California Energy Commission, who’s primary purpose is authorizing new power plants, is that they are likely to respect the decision of the City of San Diego on whether or not to change the local laws that the power plant conflicts with. That's why it is critical to follow the money trail to San Diego and hold those decision-makers accountable for any violation of the public trust. San Diego decision-makers have the power to halt this abomination by rejecting changes to the "LORS."

The public understands that corporate interests contribute funds to buy favorable political decisions. The relevant question is: Who is receiving the money and will they be able to withstand the pressure to capitulate their mission to protect the public resources that they have been entrusted with?

I urge the public to pay close attention- because your health, park and community are under attack and there is a concerted effort to influence the critical local decisions to your detriment.


Resource Analyst/Executive Director, Preserve Wild Santee

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