PCL Insider: News from the Capitol

Due to the upcoming Thanksgiving vacation, we're getting this edition of the PCL Insider out just a little bit early - to get you in the holiday spirit.

A THANK YOU FOR THANKSGIVING!

First, we'd like to send a big "Thank You" from the Board and staff of the Planning and Conservation League and the PCL Foundation. We're extremely grateful for your continuing and consistent support!

The PCL and PCLF budgets are always tight, and we greatly value your contributions. If you are not already a member of PCL (and a number of our Insider subscribers aren't!) please consider joining PCL officially through our secure website.

HELP CELEBRATE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEROES AT PCL'S ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE SYMPOSIUM!

Each year PCL and the PCL Foundation wrap up our Environmental Legislative Symposium by honoring our "Environmental Heroes of the Year" at a gala awards banquet. We hope you're able to join us on Saturday, January 12, 2008 to celebrate our community's latest victories and support our 2007 award recipients! 

And the winners are...

Assemblymember Lois Wolk, our Legislator of the Year, has been a true leader in water policies and legislation, authoring several bills that were part of the historic Flood Policy Reform Package, passed by the legislature three months ago. 

The Winnemem Wintu Tribe, recipient of the Environmental Justice Advocate of the Year Award, has been extremely successful in advocating for protection of California's waterways. They have helped build a strong coalition of environmental, tribal and environmental groups that are united in fighting an expansion of Shasta Dam which would drown remaining tribal lands.

Bill Center, recipient of the Carla Bard Award for Individual Achievement, has worked tirelessly –and successfully- on the re-licensing agreement signed by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District for the Upper American River Project, helping to open up new recreational rafting opportunities along one of the most accessible (and fun) rivers in the nation.

The Central Valley Air Quality Coalition (CVAQ) is receiving our David Gaines Non-Profit of the Year Award for organizing communities to advocate effectively for the improvement of the Central Valley's air quality. Thanks to CVAQ, the Air Board in the Central Valley will soon be restructured – and that's just the beginning!

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), our Environmental Business of the Year, is being recognized for its corporate efforts to reduce the impacts of global warming and increase the use of wind and solar energy sources, and for its program to transfer some of its most significant land holdings to entities that can provide permanent environmental stewardship.

Register today for the Symposium and award banquet with our 2-for-1 Deal!

SOMETHING COOKING AT THE CAPITOL?

As we move towards the Thanksgiving Day Holiday, you might have forgotten that the California State Legislature is still in session. Actually, it's in session twice over! A special session on health care and a special session on water are both "open for business," and the rumor this week has been that the Governor is still pushing hard for a water bond that would give three billion of our tax dollars, not including interest, for environmentally destructive and uneconomic new dams.

It's not clear that this kind of a turkey is actually in the oven. The "latest news" always contradicts the last edition, which was only a couple of hours old. We promise to give you only the most recent (and hopefully accurate) version of what's happening, when it happens. Stay tuned for more details in an upcoming edition of the PCL Insider!

A CARLSBAAAAAAAD DECISION

Last week, the Coastal Commission went against the recommendation of its staff and approved the permit for Poseidon's controversial ocean water desalination facility proposed in Carlsbad. 

This unfortunate decision makes it even more important that the State Lands Commission, in their hearing in Sacramento on December 3rd, does not follow suit with their own approval.  Please let the State Lands Commission know that approving Poseidon's desalination project would be the wrong decision!  (see details below)

Poseidon's proposed project would have significant environmental consequences, most notably negative impacts on marine life (because of the proposed open water intake and brine discharge) and high potential to produce GHG emissions that contribute to climate change (because desalination is energy-intensive). 

At the Coastal Commission hearing, Poseidon made vague promises to offset the mortality of marine life in Agua Hedionda Lagoon and offered a laundry list of steps they could take to reduce or offset the greenhouse gas emissions from the energy needed to power this massive facility – the largest proposed in the western hemisphere. 

In response, a few Coastal Commissioners repeatedly noted that there were no actual plans on the table and the information Poseidon provided was insufficient to make an informed decision.  Nonetheless, the permit was granted with conditions to come back to the Commission with information and plans in hand.

Poseidon's Peter McLaggan is quoted as saying "Today was a success. We came here for a Coastal Development Permit and we're leaving with a Coastal Development Permit." Many in the environmental community believe that what Poseidon left with was a future lawsuit to defend. Joe Geever of Surfrider Foundation noted, "All the Coastal Commission did today was to permit a facility that continues to kill fish that the local power plant finally agreed to restore. This decision can't stand."

With project approvals in hand from the Carlsbad City Council and, now, the Coastal Commission, Poseidon Resources is just one major permit away from breaking ground on this facility. 

The State Lands Commission will be considering Poseidon's permit request at their next hearing in Sacramento on December 3rd (time and location to be announced).

Please join us in asking the State Lands Commission to DENY Poseidon's request to build an energy-intensive, environmentally damaging ocean desalination facility in Carlsbad, California.

You may submit written comments by November 26th via e-mail (Carlsbad.desal@slc.ca.gov) or deliver your message in person.

Please contact Barb Byrne at bbyrne@pcl.org for more information.