The Environmental Health Coalition commends the Union-Tribune for challenging the continued operation of the South Bay Power Plant ("Cutting the lines to an outdated power plant," South County Editorial, Oct. 4).

The power plant is costly and heavily polluting, with operations shrouded in mystery. Community residents, Chula Vista City Council, and the San Diego Unified Port District all agree the power plant must go and "must run" designation should be lifted.

While correctly identifying the problem, the Union-Tribune did not present the best solution. The options discussed, either Sunrise Power Link or a series of fossil fuel-burning peaker plants, are extremely short-sighted. While this is SDG&E's official position, it should not be our region's future energy policy.

Any discussion regarding replacing the power plant and energy generation in the South Bay must begin and end with renewable energy. EHC released the Green Energy Options Report in February documenting clean energy options for meeting our needs without large, polluting, and improperly sited gas-fired power plants. These options are not only cost effective, but also reduce greenhouse gases.

Greener energy options would reduce particulate pollution and carbon dioxide emissions every year by 60 to 80 percent over a new gas-fired plant.

A bold solar program would be an important first step considering that just 107 square feet of photo-voltaic panels produce 1 kilowatt of electricity on average per day.

By investing in energy development, Chula Vista can take a major step toward ensuring energy and economic security for the city Vista and the region.

LEO MIRAS
Policy Advocate, Environmental Health Coalition
National City