Reactions to Planning Commission Decision Against Quail Brush Power Project

Read more about the Quail Brush Power Plant

The last week, which put a in the plans for a gas-fired power plant planned near the Santee and , seems to have set the tone for the approval process fof the Quail Brush Power Plant.

Since then, local leaders, activists and Cogentrix (the company vying to construct and operate the plant) have reacted to the vote. Here are some of those comments:

"We are disappointed and disagree with the Planning Commission's decision not to participate in the CEC's review of Quail Brush. We plan to appeal this decision and hope the City Council will recognize the importance of this project, which will benefit the region in many ways.  Those wide ranging benefits include maintaining energy reliability during peak periods, supplementing wind and solar resources when they are offline and helping to retiring older, less efficient facilities."

-Cogentrix Project Manager 

"The vote was decisive, the commissioners couldn't make the important findings, which is significant."

"The CEC knows they are walking into a firestorm."

"After hearing all the evidence, you'll be hearing from the City Council on what is an acceptable use of open space in San Diego."

-San Diego City Councilmember Marti Emerald

"I'm very optimistic with the outcome, but be aware the fight's not over. It will be appealed and the public will need to do this again, and again for the CEC. We need to continue to build a strong opposition coalition of local leaders, organizations and boards."

-Santee Vice-Mayor

"Quail Brush has rightfully struck out with every local planning body. It has not gained the support of even a single elected city council member. If opponents stay focused upon educating SD City Council members and the others why similar peaker plants are obsolete, then we can prevail at both the SD City Council and the California Energy Commission (CEC) on the merits."

-, Resource Analyst/Executive Director of Preserve Wild Santee

Watch the attached video to see coverage of the SDPC vote by local news stations.

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