December 23, 2008
Chamber Successfully Secures Reliable Energy Supplies For
Corona Businesses
The Corona Chamber of Commerce attended the
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) meeting in San
Francisco last week to publically testify in support of the
proposed Sunrise Powerlink Project. The Chamber officially
supported the Project earlier this year.
The
Project will help ensure that the Corona business
community has reliable electric service. After hours of
testimony from members of the public, the Commission approved
the Project.
“The Sunrise Powerlink Project is a forward thinking
energy solution to our region and will be beneficial to
the business community,” stated Cynthia Schneider, Chair
of the Corona Chamber's Legislative Action Committee.
“This project is an example of clean energy by using
solar and wind technology and will eliminate much of the
greenhouse gases that are generated by conventional
power plants,” Schneider continued.
Why This Is
Important To You
Corona's residents and businesses receive their
power via a network of interconnected transmission lines
that work together to provide reliable electric service
to homes and businesses throughout California. A
disruption or breakdown of major transmission lines can
compromise the entire system and put consumers across
the state at risk for blackouts and energy shortages.
The Sunrise Powerlink will have enough capacity to power
more than 650,000 homes and businesses throughout the
Corona region.
The Sunrise Powerlink would also expand access to new
supplies of clean solar, wind and geothermal energy in
the Imperial Valley that are waiting to be tapped and
help California move towards a greener energy future. In
this new era of “Green” Energy, the Sunrise Powerlink
transmission line is will provide the needed capacity of
renewable power to homes and businesses, while at the
same time having minimal impact on the environment. This
type of project falls in line with AB 32, Global Warming
Solutions Act of 2006 that positioned California as a
world leader in effort to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
The following
statement was delivered by Corona Chamber Legislative Action
Committee Chair Cynthia Schneider at the December 18, 2008 CPUC
Meeting in San Francisco:
Good
morning (CPUC) President Peevey and Commissioners. My name is
Cynthia Schneider and I am chair of the Corona Chamber of
Commerce’s Legislative Action Committee.
I am here today on behalf of the Corona Chamber of Commerce to
urge you to adopt President Peevey’s alternate decision that
approves the Sunrise Powerlink transmission line.
Despite the rosy reports, implementation of California’s
aggressive plans to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and
increase green power usage is going to cost ratepayers –
especially small business owners – a lot of money.
In order to implement these clean energy policies – and keep
energy costs low - we must invest in cost-effective
infrastructure projects like the Sunrise Powerlink. Otherwise,
we will continue to drive business out of California to other
states where the cost of doing business is much lower.
According to President Peevey’s alternate decision, the Sunrise
Powerlink will save ratepayers over $125 million in energy
costs. Given the economic downturn we’re facing, this is welcome
news.
Please know that the Sunrise Powerlink isn’t just about San
Diego or Imperial Valley. This is a power line for all Southern
California ratepayers. After all, utilities up and down the
state will use the Sunrise Powerlink to access the solar, wind
and geothermal energy in the Imperial Valley.
So while the Sunrise Powerlink won’t directly serve Corona, we
still stand firmly behind it. Because we know approval of the
line will mean businesses in the Inland Empire will also have
access to cleaner and more affordable power supplies.
This vote today represents a
test of the state’s commitment to a cleaner energy future.
Failure to approve the Sunrise Powerlink means all this talk
about combating climate change and shifting from fossil fuels to
cleaner sources of electricity is just that – talk.
On behalf of the thousands of business owners and ratepayers who
live and work outside of San Diego, please support President
Peevey’s alternative supporting the Sunrise Powerlink. We are
counting on you to do what’s right.
Thank you.