[SDCPJ] Picketline - Stop Powerlink 7am 3/1 Alpine + PDF

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Citizens' Oversight Projects (COPs)
771 Jamacha Rd #148
El Cajon, CA 92019
CitizensOversight.org
619-447-3246

February 25, 2011

MEDIA  ADVISORY -- IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PROTEST/PICKETLINE IN ALPINE TO STOP SUNRISE POWERLINK

WHAT:     Protest Rally and Picket Line to Stop Sunrise Powerlink
WHERE:     Downtown Alpine, CA
WHEN:     March 1, 2011, 7am
CONTACT:    Ray Lutz – 619-820-5321 – COPS coordinator  -- raylutz@citizensoversight.org

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA (Feb. 25, 2011) – Opponents to the Sunrise Powerlink will be gathering in downtown Alpine to protest the construction of the transmission line by staging a picket line at the work site of the project starting at 7:00 a.m. on March 1, 2011 in downtown Alpine, CA.

Although the project faces numerous court challenges and a new state administration, SDG&E continues to push forward with construction of a transmission line that will never be useful in the future of the region and a waste of ratepayer money. Opponents argue that the nearly $2 billion of San Diego County ratepayer money would be better spent on in-basin solar energy systems, as each one reduces the need for the Powerlink which has no guarantee that it will carry renewable energy. In today's market, $2 billion of in-basin solar would produce all the energy the line could carry. Projects in the Imperial Valley touted as rationale for the project have been scrapped, and there is no current justification of the line that makes sense.

Workers at the site are requested to respect the peaceful picket line by discontinuing work while the picket line is in operation.

The event – organized by Citizens' Oversight Projects (COPs – CitizensOversight.org) in cooperation with other organizations opposing the project – is open to the public. Participants who wish to block the project are encouraged to bring signs and sunscreen and join in the picket line / project blockade at 7am or throughout the day(s). Organizers don't know how long the picket line will last.

"We have no dispute with the good union workers on this project," said Ray Lutz, COPs Coordinator, "and we love to see these people working, but we do have a dispute with SDG&E and we hope those union workers will respect our picket line and discontinue work until our grievances are addressed by the company. Unions must respect our picket line if they want us to respect their picket lines during labor disputes."

COPS and other organizations will be holding a follow-on rally in front of the Sempra Energy building in downtown San Diego on March 7, 2011, at 12:30pm, with march to the federal courthouse where a lawsuit will be heard starting that day to stop the project.

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