[Sustain] Mirant Retrofit and Conditional Use Power Plant Legislation on Tuesday's BOS agenda as is Bayview/Candlestick Finance Plan

[Sumchai, Ahimsa]

I hope everyone comes out!    Ahimsa

On 11/17/08 10:27 AM, "Eric Brooks" <brookse32 at aim.com> wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> It is urgent that you each call Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi's office today
> at 415-554-7630 (please mention your group affiliation) with the
> following message:
> 
> "Please introduce amendments to Sophie Maxwell's Power Plant Conditional
> Use legislation to make certain that any Combustion Turbine 'Peaker'
> installation would have to face the same series of conditional use
> hearings as all other power plants, and that renewable energy projects
> will be protected."
> 
> Here's why this phone call is so critical..
> 
> The deeply flawed legislation discussed below is going to the full Board
> of Supervisors tomorrow!
> 
> Last Wednesday, Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, in a very cleverly
> manipulated hearing on her legislation for conditional use requirements
> on power plants, got the Planning Department to make statements which
> created the illusion that the measure will put the Combustion Turbine
> 'Peaker'(CTs) project through the same conditional use process at
> Planning as all other plants. This is simply not the case.
> 
> Planning asserted only that Maxwell's legislation 'applies' to the CTs.
> They were referring to the final clause of the measure which says that
> the Supervisors have to use the same -criteria- when considering the
> CTs. However, this in no way whatsoever forces the CTs through full CU
> hearings at the Planning Commission. This language simply leaves it up
> to the Supervisors, with no requirement for hearings of any kind, to
> decide autonomously that previous flawed State approvals are adequate
> and immediately pass a polluting CT contract with a simple majority vote.
> 
> And it will be even easier for them to do this if Maxwell's measure
> successfully blocks all other alternatives, while the State once again
> lays pressure on the City to have fossil fuel generation. The polluting
> Peakers would then be the -only- option left. And the last time that the
> Supervisors were faced with a no-other-options vote like that, they
> voted 8-3 to pass the Peaker contract.
> 
> The legislation also has serious flaws that will interfere with the
> rapid construction of renewable energy projects which are crucial to
> stopping the Peakers and closing the Mirant plant quickly.
> 
> This is all very dangerous to the fight to stop and close fossil power
> plants in San Francisco.
> 
> The SF Green Party has helped write an amendment that will repair the
> legislation and make certain that the Peakers would indeed have to face
> the same series of conditional use hearings as all other power plants,
> and that renewable energy projects will be protected.
> 
> But we have a very serious problem. We have asked Supervisor Ross
> Mirkarimi to introduce the amendment, however he is reluctant to do so
> because he watched the hearing and received the mistaken impression from
> a couple of public comments that the entire Southeast side of the City
> has joined with Potrero Hill residents in unity to support Maxwell's
> legislation.
> 
> It is absolutely crucial that your groups notify Supervisor Mirkarimi
> today and ask him to:
> 
> "Please introduce amendments to Sophie Maxwell's Power Plant Conditional
> Use legislation to make certain that any Combustion Turbine 'Peaker'
> installation would have to face the same series of conditional use
> hearings as all other power plants, and that renewable energy projects
> will be protected."
> 
> You can reach Supervisor Mirkarimi's office at:
> 415-554-7630
> 
> If you have questions, please call me at any time this weekend through
> Monday.
> 
> peace
> 
> Eric Brooks
> San Francisco Green Party
> 415-756-8844